Orenburzhye
| Company type | State-owned enterprise |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Founded | April 1, 2013 |
| Headquarters | Orenburg , Russia |
Area served | Russia, Kazakhstan |
| Products | Passenger air transport (scheduled and charter) |
| Website | orenair |
Orenburzhie is a Russian commercial airline based in Orenburg, offering both scheduled and charter passenger services predominantly from Orenburg and Izhevsk Airport. Currently, the airline is prohibited from operating within EU airspace.
History
In August 2010, the airport's asset complex was separated from FSUE Orenburg Airlines, leading to the establishment of FSUE International Airport Orenburg, which inherited a fleet including An-2 planes and Mi-2, Mi-8T, Mi-8P, and Ka-226 helicopters. To stimulate regional air travel, three leased L-410 aircraft were procured in early 2013, accompanied by necessary certification processes and crew training.
Ownership of FSUE "International airport" Orenburg was transferred to the Orenburg regional government in October 2012, subsequently rebranded as State Unitary Enterprise "Airport Orenburg."
The airline commenced operations on 1 April 2013, launching routes from Orenburg to significant regional hubs such as Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Orsk, Perm, Samara, Tyumen, Ufa, Chelyabinsk, Saratov (starting September), and Aktobe (beginning October). In October 2013, it obtained foreign carrier registration in Kazakhstan and initiated flights along the Orenburg–Aktobe corridor.
By 2017, Orenburzhye intended to modernize its fleet by leasing eight Embraer 190 jets from Air Canada, preferring this option over an earlier consideration of Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft; however, this leasing agreement was not finalized.
Destinations
Orenburzhye provides regular services to numerous important destinations across Russia and Kazakhstan, including:
- Arkhangelsk Oblast
- Bashkortostan
- Belgorod Oblast
- Chelyabinsk Oblast
- Republic of Crimea
- Kaluga Oblast
- Karelia
- Kirov Oblast
- Krasnodar Krai
- Lipetsk Oblast
- Omsk Oblast
- Orenburg Oblast
- Perm Krai
- Rostov Oblast
- Samara Oblast
- Sverdlovsk Oblast
- Tatarstan
- Tyumen Oblast / Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug
- Udmurtia
- Volgograd Oblast / Voronezh Oblast
- Yaroslavl Oblast
- Kazakhstan
- Additional Russian destinations
- Buguruslan Airfield, Cheboksary, Gelendzhik, Nizhny Novgorod, Nyagan, Saratov, Stavropol, Tyumen
Fleet
Orenburzhye operates a total of 31 aircraft dedicated to enhancing regional air service:
| Aircraft model | Quantity in service | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Let L-410 Turbolet | 7 | Twin-engine turboprops designed for short-distance regional flights |
| Antonov An-2 | 15 | Versatile biplanes utilized for accessing remote locations |
| Mil Mi-2 | 6 | Light helicopters deployed for diverse operational needs |
| Mil Mi-8 | 3 | Medium-sized helicopters used for both passenger and freight transportation |
| Total | 31 |
This aircraft lineup aligns with Orenburzhye’s strategy of serving less accessible regional areas by employing adaptable planes compatible with various infrastructure conditions.