Metrojet
Metrojet was the marketing brand of the Russian charter airline Kogalymavia, which operated international leisure and charter services before suspending operations in 2015 and entering bankruptcy proceedings in 2016.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Metrojet was the principal marketing name used by Kogalymavia, a Russian airline based in Kogalym in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug. The carrier used the IATA code 7K and ICAO code KGL, with Kogalym International Airport as its home base and Moscow Domodedovo International Airport as its main hub. Although the Metrojet name is now associated with the airline's final period, the underlying business began operating in May 1993. The airline initially served domestic Russian routes and operated a mixed fleet that included Soviet-built aircraft. Over time, particularly after 2005, it shifted toward international charter flying for leisure travelers. During this phase it marketed itself under the Kolavia name. Its business model centered on seasonal and charter services linking Russia with holiday destinations in the Mediterranean, North Africa, the Middle East, and other international markets. In May 2012, Kogalymavia changed its consumer-facing brand from Kolavia to Metrojet. The rebranding was connected with a newly established joint venture with TUI Russia & CIS, a subsidiary of the German tourism group TUI Travel. Under this arrangement, Metrojet operated services on behalf of TUI and became more closely associated with package-tour and leisure-travel traffic. The joint venture ended in August 2014, after which the airline continued to operate independently under the Metrojet name. The carrier experienced two major aviation safety events during its final years. In January 2011, a Tupolev Tu-154 caught fire before departure at Surgut, causing fatalities and injuries despite an emergency evacuation. On 31 October 2015, Metrojet Flight 9268, an Airbus A321 charter flight traveling from Sharm el-Sheikh to Saint Petersburg, broke up over Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. All 224 people aboard were killed. Russian authorities subsequently classified the crash as a terrorist attack and stated that an improvised explosive device had detonated during the flight. The Flight 9268 disaster had an immediate commercial effect. On 5 December 2015, Metrojet suspended its remaining operations amid a sharp fall in passenger demand and heightened concerns about the security environment at important leisure destinations in Egypt. The airline announced that it would review its operations and indicated that a return in summer 2016 was possible, but it did not resume service. Kogalymavia filed for bankruptcy in March 2016, effectively ending the airline's business. Before its shutdown, Metrojet operated a wide network from Moscow, including destinations in Austria, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Spain, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Montenegro, Norway, Pakistan, the Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It also served Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam from Vladivostok. Its historical fleet included Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft as well as Antonov An-24, Tupolev Tu-134, and Tupolev Tu-154 variants.
History
Kogalymavia began operating in May 1993 from Kogalym, a city in Russia's Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug. Its early operation included domestic Russian passenger flying and used aircraft types common to the Soviet and post-Soviet aviation markets. The carrier's home airport was Kogalym International Airport, while Moscow Domodedovo later became its principal hub. After 2005, the airline increasingly concentrated on international charter operations. It adopted the Kolavia marketing name and built a business focused largely on leisure destinations. Rather than competing primarily as a large scheduled network carrier, it supplied seasonal capacity for holiday traffic, including routes between Russia and resorts in Egypt, the Mediterranean, Europe, and the Middle East. A significant change came in May 2012, when Kogalymavia replaced the Kolavia marketing identity with Metrojet. The change formed part of a joint venture with TUI Russia & CIS, which was connected to the German tourism company TUI Travel. Through the arrangement, Metrojet operated flights for TUI and became integrated into the package-tour distribution model. The brand therefore represented both the airline's own operating certificate and a consumer-facing identity aimed at international leisure travelers. The commercial partnership lasted until August 2014, when the joint venture was terminated. Metrojet subsequently operated independently. Its network from Moscow expanded across a broad range of European holiday markets and long-haul destinations, while services from Vladivostok connected Russia's Far East with Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam. The carrier's destinations included cities in Austria, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Montenegro, Norway, Pakistan, the Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Safety incidents became an important part of the airline's later history. On 1 January 2011, a Tupolev Tu-154B-2 caught fire while preparing to depart on a Surgut–Moscow flight. The aircraft was evacuated, but three people died and dozens were injured. On 5 November 2015, another Metrojet Airbus A321 experienced a nose-gear collapse during pushback at Saint Petersburg Airport; the incident flight was operated by aircraft EI-ETL. The most consequential event was the destruction of Flight 9268 on 31 October 2015. The Airbus A321 was flying from Sharm el-Sheikh to Saint Petersburg with 217 passengers and seven crew members. The aircraft crashed over the Sinai Peninsula, killing everyone aboard. On 17 November 2015, Russia's Federal Security Service announced that the crash was a terrorist attack caused by an improvised explosive device. The disaster was the deadliest in the airline's history and had severe effects on demand, route viability, and the carrier's access to important Egyptian leisure markets. On 5 December 2015, Metrojet suspended its remaining operations. It cited the substantial reduction in passenger numbers and concerns over security at its main leisure destinations. The airline said it would review its business and left open the possibility of returning in summer 2016, but no restart occurred. In March 2016, Kogalymavia filed for bankruptcy, bringing the Metrojet operation to an end. Its historical fleet included Airbus A320-200 and A321-200 aircraft, Antonov An-24s, Tupolev Tu-134s, and Tupolev Tu-154B and Tu-154M aircraft. One of the airline's Airbus A321 aircraft was involved in the 2015 Flight 9268 crash.
- 2016
Bankruptcy filing
[1]Kogalymavia filed for bankruptcy in March after failing to resume airline operations.
- 2015
Flight 9268 destroyed over Sinai
[1]Metrojet Flight 9268 crashed over Egypt's Sinai Peninsula on 31 October, killing all 224 people aboard.
- 2015
Operations suspended
[1]Metrojet halted its remaining flights on 5 December following the crash, falling passenger demand, and security concerns.
- 2014
TUI joint venture ends
[1]The joint venture with TUI Russia & CIS ended in August, after which Metrojet operated independently.
- 2012
Kolavia rebrands as Metrojet
[1]Kogalymavia changed its marketing identity from Kolavia to Metrojet in connection with a joint venture with TUI Russia & CIS.
- 2011
Tu-154 fire at Surgut
[1]A Tu-154 caught fire before departure, resulting in three deaths and numerous injuries.
- 2005
Shift toward international charter flying
[1]After 2005, the carrier increasingly focused on international charter services to leisure destinations and marketed itself as Kolavia.
- 1993
Kogalymavia begins operations
[1]The airline began operating in May 1993 from Kogalym in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug of Russia.
Products and positioning
A Russian leisure and charter airline positioned around international holiday traffic, especially services organized for tour operators and package-tour customers.
Airline services
International charter passenger services
Metrojet's core commercial offering was international charter passenger flying, particularly for holiday and package-tour markets. From Moscow it served a wide network of European, Egyptian, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and North American destinations. The airline also operated international services from Vladivostok to selected East and Southeast Asian cities.
Charter aviation · 2012
Leisure and tour-operator flights
During its Metrojet period, the airline supplied capacity for leisure travel and operated on behalf of TUI Russia & CIS until the partnership ended in 2014. This offering linked Russian departure points with resort markets such as Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Spain, Italy, Bulgaria, and Tunisia.
Controversies
2015
Terrorist bombing of Flight 9268
Metrojet Flight 9268, an Airbus A321 traveling from Sharm el-Sheikh to Saint Petersburg, crashed over the Sinai Peninsula on 31 October 2015, killing all 224 people aboard. Russia's Federal Security Service later attributed the crash to an improvised explosive device.
Marketing campaigns
- 2012Metrojet rebrand
Russia · International leisure markets
Kogalymavia changed its consumer-facing identity from Kolavia to Metrojet as part of its cooperation with TUI Russia & CIS. The rebrand supported a stronger focus on international leisure and package-tour traffic.
Outcome. The Metrojet identity remained in use after the TUI joint venture ended in 2014, until the airline suspended operations in 2015.
Brand decisions
2015
Suspend airline operationsStrategyBackground
The Flight 9268 disaster was followed by a sharp decline in passenger demand and concerns about security at important Egyptian and other leisure destinations.
Action taken
Metrojet suspended all remaining operations on 5 December 2015 and announced a review of its future activities.
Aftermath
The airline did not return to service and filed for bankruptcy in March 2016.
2012
Adopt the Metrojet marketing brandStrategyBackground
Kogalymavia was increasingly focused on international leisure charter services and entered a newly established joint venture with TUI Russia & CIS.
Action taken
The airline changed its marketing identity from Kolavia to Metrojet in May 2012.
Aftermath
Metrojet operated for TUI until the joint venture ended in August 2014, then continued independently under the same brand.
Sources1 sources
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