Moscow Airways
Moscow Airways was a Russian airline that was formed as a subsidiary of Aeroflot to operate the airline's fleet of Ilyushin Il-62s.[1]
| |||||||
Founded | 1991 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ceased operations | 1996 | ||||||
Operating bases | Sheremetyevo International Airport | ||||||
Parent company | Aeroflot | ||||||
Headquarters | Moscow, Russia |
History
It began operating in 1991, flying passengers and airfreight.[2] Among the airline's destinations by 1993 were Sharjah (United Arab Emirates)[2][3] and Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), from where Moscow Airways ferried home South African Muslims returning from pilgrimage.[4]
Moscow Airways operated, from 1993 to 1996, an Ilyushin Il-76TD (tail number RA-76498) that was built in 1982,[5][6][7] and also flew a Tupolev Tu-154M (RA-85681) that carried passengers on charter flights from Sheremetyevo International Airport;[7][8] both aircraft previously belonged to Aeroflot.[7] In 1993, the airline ordered fifty Beriev Be-32Ps.[9][10] These were never built nor delivered.
The airline ceased operations in 1996 after the fatal accident in Africa which killed approximately 300 people.
Accidents and incidents
- On 8 January 1996, an Air Africa Antonov An-32 aircraft (RA-26222) which had been wet-leased from Moscow Airways to Scibe Airlift crashed into a market shortly after taking off from N'Dolo Airport in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing approximately 300 people.[11] At the time, the Russian Ministry of Transport had "suspended or withdrawn" Moscow Airways' air operator's license.[12]
References
- Pederson, Jay P. (2007). International Directory of Company Histories. Vol. 89. St. James Press. p. 32. ISBN 978-1-4144-2973-1. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
In order to improve decision-making flexibility, Aeroflot established three separate subsidiaries, divided by the type of aircraft operated: Golden Star (Tu-154), Moscow Airways (Il-62), and Russky Vityaz (Il-76 and Tu-154); the Airbuses were operated by a separate division.
- Morton, John K. (2001). Flying Freighters. Osceola, Wisconsin: MBI Publishing. p. 81. ISBN 978-0-7603-1132-5. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
One of the Il-76s to receive a more colourful livery was RA-76498, which was ... [in] Sharjah in June 1994. The freighter carries the colours of the now defunct Moscow Airways, a small cargo- and passenger-operator that commenced flying in 1991. The airline continued providing services for a further three years after [June 1994].
- Middle East Economic Digest. Vol. 37. MEED. 1993. p. 45. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
Since September, three new CIS operators have started a service to the emirate – Moscow Airways, Moldova and Kyrgyzstan Airways.
- South Africa, 1993: Official yearbook. Pretoria: South African Communication Service. 1993. p. 155. ISBN 978-0-7970-2797-8. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
As from 15 June, Egypt Air and Aeroflot Moscow Airways institute direct charter flights from Jeddah in Saudi-Arabia to Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, in order to bring South African Moslems back from their annual pilgrimage ...
- Air pictorial: journal of the Air League. Vol. 60. London: Air League of the British Empire. 1998. p. 127. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- "Photo Search Results: 'Ilyushin Il-76/78/82', 'Moscow Airways'". Airliners.net. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
RA-76498 (cn 0023442218) Line nr: # 31-05. Operated for Moscow Airways from 1993–1996 and for Continental Airways in 1997.
- Morton, John K. (1997). Jetliner glory: airliner liveries. Airlife. p. 48. ISBN 978-1-85310-802-0. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
Tupolev 154M RA-85681 was at one time an Aeroflot aircraft and flew in those colours until the break-up of the airline. At that time, the newly formed Moscow Airways applied their own titles and colour scheme and the aircraft entered service providing passenger charter flights from its base at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport. ... Included in the fleet of Moscow Airways is an Ilyushin 76TD freighter ... RA-76498 is 1982-built machine which also once bore the colours of Aeroflot.
- "Photo Search Results: 'Tupolev Tu-154', 'Moscow Airways'". Airliners.net. Archived from the original on 3 February 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- Frawley, Gerard (2001). The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2001/2002. Aerospace Publications. p. 51. ISBN 978-1-875671-52-6. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
Moscow Airways announced an order for 50 Be-32s in 1993.
- Jane, Frederick Thomas (2001). Jane's All the World's Aircraft, 2001–2002. p. 352. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
Be-32P: ... Order for 50 announced by Moscow Airways 1993 (company no longer extant).
- Guttery, Ben R. (1998). Encyclopedia of African Airlines. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. p. 43. ISBN 978-0-7864-0495-7. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
An Antonov An-32 (Russian registry RA26222) turboprop flown by a Russian crew crashed just after takeoff on January 8, 1996, at Kinshasa. The aircraft was wet-leased to Scibe by Moscow Airways. ... One aboard the aircraft was killed, but the aircraft crashed into a market near the airport, killing almost 300.
- Aerospace. Vol. 23. Royal Aeronautical Society. 1996. p. 6. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
Moscow Airways had been one of about 100 operators whose licences have been suspended or withdrawn by the Russian transport ministry ...