AiRUnion

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AiRUnion
Official Launch Date 2005
Members Full 5
Non-Voting 0
Pending 0
Destinations Airports 134
Countries 13
Annual Passengers (M) 4
Fleet Size 100
Management Boris Abramovich (CEO), Alexander Abramovich (President)
Website http://www.airunion.ru
EI-CBQ Boeing 737
EI-CBQ Boeing 737

AiRUnion was a Russian airline alliance. It was the first airline alliance ever established in Russia. Member airlines and their affiliates enjoyed a high degree of co-operation in scheduling, ticketing, code sharing, flight transfer operations, frequent flyer program benefits, shared airport lounges, reducing costs, and sharing best practices. The union has become a single airline and according to unofficial information is in the process of negotiations to join Star Alliance.

Contents

[edit] History

This alliance was originally known as AirBridge. In October 2004 Russian airlines KrasAir and Domodedovo Airlines set up a joint management company called AirBridge. KrasAir is owned by the city government of Krasnoyarsk (51%) and AirBridge management (49%) (Boris Abramovich - CEO and his brother, Alexander Abramovich - deputy CEO, no relation to Roman Abramovich). While retaining separate legal identities the airlines were planning to integrate their networks and services, as they are largely complementary. In April 2007 AirBridge had purchased Malév airline from Hungarian government. "Malev can still grow on the western markets with hard work, but the greatest opportunity is offered by linking with destinations in Russia and the Far East", said Boris Abramovich in an interview.[citation needed] Boris Abramovich is also a CEO of AirUnion alliance.

The Abramovich brothers' aggressive expansion campaign led to the creation of AiRUnion alliance in 2005, the first airline alliance in Russia. It included KrasAir, Domodedovo Airlines, Omskavia, Samara Airlines and Sibaviatrans. All of the member airlines are virtually controlled by Krasair.[citation needed] On May 3, 2007 the five members of the AirUnion alliance were rolled into a similarly named holding company, OAO AirUnion, in which the Russian government holds no less than 45% of the shares.[1]

Although Malév is a Oneworld member, in early 2007 AiRUnion began a codeshare with Austrian Airlines and Lufthansa in its strategic expansion into European routes.[2]

AiRUnion is competing with S7 Airlines to be second (after Aeroflot) largest domestic carrier in Russia in 2007. AiRUnion carried 4.9 million passengers in 2006 compared to 8.75 million for Aeroflot.[3]

In future, as Boris Abramovich has explained, the company wants to use Yemelyanovo Airport in Krasnoyark as a hub between Europe, America and Asia.[citation needed] AiRUnion will operate new western-made aircraft along with new models of Russian- and Ukrainian-built aircraft.

[edit] Member airlines

[edit] Premium status

AiRUnion has one premium level, Premium, based on a customer's tier status in a frequent flyer program. Each member and regional airline recognizes AiRUnion Premium status, with only a few exceptions (mainly pertaining to airport lounge access). Status has no specific requirements; membership is based solely on the frequent flyer programs of individual member airlines.

Benefits of AiRUnion Premium membership:

  • Free tickets
  • Transportation of additional luggage
  • Discounts of alliance program participants

[edit] Destinations

[edit] Russia

[edit] Asia

[edit] Central Asia

[edit] East Asia

[edit] Southeast Asia

[edit] Southwest Asia

[edit] Europe

[edit] North America

[edit] United States

[edit] References

  1. ^ Putin OKs 5-Way Merger of Airlines - International Business Times
  2. ^ Aeroflot’s competitor becomes strategic partner of Lufthansa :: Russia-InfoCentre
  3. ^ Lufthansa has partnership with Russian Airline AirUnion
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Members of AiRUnion