Avianova
A Russian low-cost airline that operated domestic and limited international services from 2009 until 2011.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Avianova was a Russian low-cost airline headquartered in Moscow. The carrier was created during a period when Russian aviation companies were seeking to develop more accessible, low-fare air travel for a broader population. It was registered in 2006, received Russian regulatory approval in August 2009, and began commercial operations on 27 August 2009. The airline positioned itself around very low headline fares, initially advertising base tickets from 250 Russian rubles before taxes and additional fees. Its stated commercial ambition was to bring air travel to Russians who had rarely or never flown. Avianova used an ancillary-revenue and low-cost model in which the advertised fare excluded taxes and fees, allowing the carrier to promote a highly visible entry price while charging separately for elements of the journey. Avianova initially operated from Moscow Vnukovo Airport before moving its hub to Sheremetyevo Airport Terminal 1 on 28 March 2010. From Sheremetyevo it developed a network focused mainly on Russian destinations, including regional centers and leisure markets such as Sochi, Anapa, Gelendzhik and Krasnodar. It also served Simferopol in Ukraine. The carrier became a significant operator at Sheremetyevo by seat capacity, reportedly accounting for approximately one quarter of the airport's capacity at one point in 2010 and ranking second among carriers there by seats flown. Traffic expanded rapidly during its short operating life. Avianova carried approximately 1.3 million passengers in 2010 with a load factor above 80 percent. By June 2011, it had carried more than two million passengers since launch, with an average seat factor close to 80 percent. A second base was opened at Krasnodar in May 2011, supporting services to Sochi, Surgut, Saint Petersburg and Moscow. The airline operated six Airbus A320 aircraft, all registered in Ireland, and discussed a long-term objective of growing to as many as 50 aircraft. That expansion plan was not realized. The company became embroiled in a serious shareholder and management dispute in June 2011. Representatives of the majority shareholder removed the foreign management team and several Russian managers from the airline's offices and installed new leadership. Chief executive Andrew Pyne characterized the event as an unlawful takeover, while the replacement management accused the former team of managerial incompetence, violations of Russian law and causing substantial financial harm. Indigo Partners rejected the new appointments, arguing that the management change lacked a legal foundation. The dispute also involved disagreements over further financing and corporate control. The unresolved shareholder impasse undermined the airline's ability to continue operating. Avianova stopped selling tickets on 3 October 2011 and ceased operations on 10 October 2011. The airline therefore remained a short-lived participant in the development of Russian low-cost aviation: it demonstrated strong initial passenger demand and high load factors, but its planned fleet expansion and longer-term business model were overtaken by governance conflict and funding problems.
History
Avianova was established as a Russian airline company in 2006 and later developed as a low-cost carrier serving a market with relatively limited access to inexpensive scheduled air travel. Russian regulatory approval was obtained in August 2009, and the airline launched operations on 27 August of that year. Its initial proposition centered on exceptionally low advertised base fares, with taxes and other fees added separately. The strategy was intended to stimulate demand among people who had not regularly used air transportation. The airline began with Moscow Vnukovo as its operating base, but transferred its hub to Sheremetyevo Airport Terminal 1 on 28 March 2010. Its network was primarily domestic and included a mix of large Russian cities, regional centers and leisure destinations. It also operated an international route to Simferopol in Ukraine. Avianova's growth was notable in the context of Russia's emerging low-cost aviation segment. During 2010 it carried around 1.3 million passengers and reported a load factor exceeding 80 percent. By seat capacity, it became one of the leading airlines at Sheremetyevo, at one stage representing roughly 25 percent of the airport's capacity and ranking second by seats flown. The airline expanded further in 2011 by establishing a second base at Krasnodar in May. From there it supported flights involving Sochi, Surgut, Saint Petersburg and Moscow, while the wider network reached numerous Russian cities. By June 2011, cumulative passenger numbers since launch had exceeded two million, with the average seat factor remaining close to 80 percent. Avianova operated six Airbus A320 aircraft. All aircraft were registered in Ireland. Management discussed a much larger future fleet of up to 50 aircraft within five years, reflecting expectations that low-cost air travel would continue to expand in Russia. Ownership and management structure became the central issue in the airline's final months. By October 2011, Alfa Group controlled 51 percent of the company and Indigo Partners held the balance. On 24 June 2011, representatives of the majority shareholder entered the airline's offices and removed the foreign management team and some Russian managers. Andrew Pyne, the chief executive, described the event as an illegal coup. The replacement leadership responded that the former managers had acted incompetently, disregarded Russian legal requirements and caused serious financial damage. It appointed Konstantin Teterin, previously associated with Red Wings Airlines, as deputy director general, but Indigo Partners did not recognize the appointment and argued that the change had no legal basis. The dispute was not resolved through agreement between the shareholders. It was accompanied by disagreement over financing and the future direction of the business, leaving the airline unable to maintain normal operations. Avianova stopped ticket sales on 3 October 2011 and stopped flying on 10 October 2011. Its collapse ended a brief but high-profile attempt to establish a large Russian low-cost airline. The carrier's strong passenger volumes and consistently high load factors indicated substantial demand, but those operational achievements did not overcome the governance conflict and funding impasse.
- 2011
Krasnodar base opens
[1]Avianova opened a second base at Krasnodar in May, broadening its regional network.
- 2011
Shareholder management crisis
[1]A disputed management takeover on 24 June triggered a prolonged conflict between the shareholders.
- 2011
Operations cease
[1]Ticket sales ended on 3 October and flight operations ended on 10 October.
- 2010
Hub transferred to Sheremetyevo
[1]Avianova moved its Moscow hub from Vnukovo to Sheremetyevo Airport Terminal 1 on 28 March.
- 2010
Passenger traffic reaches approximately 1.3 million
[1]The carrier reported about 1.3 million passengers and a load factor above 80 percent for the year.
- 2009
Regulatory approval and launch
[1]The airline received Russian regulatory approval in August and began commercial operations on 27 August.
- 2006
Company registered
[1]Avianova was first registered as a company in Russia.
Products and positioning
A low-cost carrier focused on making air travel affordable to a wider Russian population through very low advertised base fares and a predominantly domestic route network.
Passenger air transportation · 2009
Scheduled low-cost passenger flights
Avianova's principal offering was scheduled passenger air service using an inexpensive low-cost-carrier model. The airline advertised very low base fares, with taxes and fees excluded from the headline price. Its network concentrated on routes within Russia, linking Moscow and regional cities with destinations that included major urban, business and leisure markets. The service was operated primarily with Airbus A320 aircraft.
Airline route network · 2009
Domestic Russian network
Before ending operations, Avianova served a broad selection of Russian destinations, including Anapa, Arkhangelsk, Astrakhan, Gelendzhik, Kaliningrad, Krasnodar, Kurgan, Moscow, Nizhnekamsk, Perm, Rostov-on-Don, Saint Petersburg, Samara, Sochi, Stavropol, Surgut, Tyumen, Ufa, Ulyanovsk, Volgograd and Yekaterinburg. Some routes were suspended or changed during the airline's operating period.
International passenger route
Simferopol service
Avianova operated a route from its Russian network to Simferopol Airport in Ukraine. This was the carrier's identified international destination before the airline ceased flying.
Controversies
2011
Disputed shareholder takeover and management crisis
On 24 June, representatives of the majority shareholder removed the foreign management team and some Russian managers. Andrew Pyne called the action an illegal coup, while the replacement leadership alleged incompetence, legal violations and financial harm by the previous team. Indigo Partners rejected the new appointments, claiming they lacked a legal basis.
Marketing campaigns
- 2009Ultra-low introductory fare campaign
Russia
Avianova promoted base fares from 250 rubles, excluding taxes and fees, to communicate an accessible low-cost alternative to conventional air travel.
Outcome. The airline achieved rapid initial traffic growth, although the available reference does not establish that the campaign alone caused the result.
Brand decisions
2011
Open a second operating base at KrasnodarStrategyBackground
The airline was expanding its Russian route network and had reported strong passenger demand and load factors.
Action taken
Avianova opened a Krasnodar base in May 2011, operating routes involving Sochi, Surgut, Saint Petersburg and Moscow.
Aftermath
The expansion was followed within months by the shareholder management dispute and the eventual suspension of operations.
2011
Stop ticket sales and discontinue operationsOtherBackground
The shareholders remained divided over management authority and company funding.
Action taken
Avianova stopped selling tickets on 3 October and ceased flights on 10 October 2011.
Aftermath
The airline became defunct and its planned fleet and network expansion did not proceed.
2010
Move the Moscow hub to SheremetyevoStrategyBackground
Avianova had initially operated from Moscow Vnukovo Airport and was expanding its low-cost network.
Action taken
The airline transferred its hub to Sheremetyevo Airport Terminal 1 on 28 March 2010.
Aftermath
Sheremetyevo became the carrier's principal base, where Avianova later ranked among the largest operators by seat capacity.
Recent events
- 2011
Avianova opens a second base at Krasnodar[1]
Other
A second operating base opened at Krasnodar in May 2011, supporting services to several Russian cities.
- 2011
Avianova stops ticket sales and suspends operations[1]
Bankruptcy · Other
The carrier stopped selling tickets on 3 October and ceased operating flights on 10 October after a continuing shareholder dispute and unresolved financing issues.
- 2010
Avianova moves its hub to Sheremetyevo[1]
Other
The carrier moved its Moscow hub from Vnukovo Airport to Sheremetyevo Airport Terminal 1 on 28 March 2010.
- 2010
Avianova reports rapid passenger growth[1]
Other
The airline carried about 1.3 million passengers during 2010 and achieved a load factor above 80 percent.
- 2009
Avianova begins commercial operations[1]
Product launch
The newly approved Russian low-cost airline started operating scheduled flights on 27 August 2009.
Sources1 sources
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