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Airlines |
The
tremendous distances of Russia make plane travel highly desirable if
you plan to travel to some of Russia's more far-flung attractions.
It's worth considering for any destination that is farther than an
overnight train ride. Travelling across Russia by train can sound
awfully romantic, but it's also time-consuming and rather
monotonous. Nearly every major destination of interest has an
airport nearby. The great majority of domestic flights are to/from
Moscow, but other services exist.
The Russian domestic airline industry had an abominable reputation
in the 90s due to uncertain safety records, unreliable timetables,
terrible service, uncomfortable airplanes, and substandard airports.
Substantial improvements have been made, however. Plane travel in
Russia is unlikely to be the highlight of your trip but it has
become tolerable.
Aeroflot [15] based at Sheremetyevo airport, Moscow, is Russia's
national airline for local Russian and CIS flights and international
flights to worldwide cities (Germany, South Korea, US, etc.).
Flights from St. Petersburg back into Moscow run only $97 USD (May
2007) and makes this less expensive and less time consuming than
taking the train. Note that you will arrive in Terminal 1 (domestic
terminal), so if you are flying out of the country, you will have to
commute to Terminal 2 (about 5 km and a 15 ruble bus ride). Many
international flights and some internal ones are operated by Boeing
and Airbus aircraft, in addition to the remaining Soviet-era fleet.
Transaero [16], based at Domodedovo airport, Moscow (across the city
from Sheremetyevo) is an independent airline with Boeing aircraft
which operates to major cities in Russia and the CIS, and to a few
western destinations.
S7 airlines (ex-Siberia or Sibir Airlines) [17] Russia's largest
domestic carrier with international service to many cities in
Germany, China and ex-Soviet republics.
Rossiya Airlines (ex-Pulkovo Airlines) [18] has a substantial
network based at St Petersburg Pulkovo airport to both major cities
in Russia, and to western Europe.
Other major airlines include: KrasAir [19] and UTair [20]. Many of
these airlines (apart from Transaero, which started as an
independent operation) were formed out of the onetime-Aeroflot
operation at their home city from Soviet times when the old Aeroflot
was broken up.
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