When planning a vacation, every detail should be taken into account. Equally important is the choice of airline with which you begin your journey. The airline "North wind" (Nordwind airlines) has long existed in the passenger transportation market. In order to find out whether it makes sense to use its services, let's conduct a brief review.
History
North Wind Airlines is one of the fastest growing Russian carriers. It was created in 2008. At that time, the fleet consisted of only 3 aircraft, and the geography of flights was limited to 6 charter destinations. In 2009, 4 more aircraft were purchased , and in 2012 - 18. By 2014, the aircraft fleet was equipped with 36 airliners, and the total passenger turnover for the entire period of the company's existence was more than 4 million people.
Today, the route grid includes more than 100 destinations in 27 countries of the world. The airline also signed a contract for the purchase of 5 new airliners in order to modernize the fleet. North Wind is a carrier of the tour operator Pegas Touristik.
Priorities
The main priority of the company, like any airline, is safety. This applies to aircraft, employees and passengers. North Wind Airlines has set a course for improvement and development, which is the key to the quality of services provided.
The fundamental difference between the company and other carriers is honesty and punctuality. Correspondence of price and quality of services plays a paramount role in this regard. The activities of the North Wind are controlled by authorities. All staff are highly qualified and are constantly trained. The company strives for leadership in the field of tourism.
North Wind (airline): airplanes
The average age of the company's fleet is 14.5 years. The oldest airliner is 21 years old, and the newest is 7.5 years old.
In total, the airline has 6 types of aircraft at its disposal:
- The Airbus A320-200 is listed in the park in the amount of 1 unit. There are two classes of tinning, the total capacity is 180 people. The age of the aircraft is 8.5 years.
- "Airbus" A321-200 is present in the amount of 8 units. When combined with two classes of service, the capacity is 170 passengers, with one up to 220. The oldest airliner is 14.5 years old, and the youngest is 7.5.
- Boeing 737-800 is available in 4 units. The layout can be either one or two classes of service. Depending on this, capacity can vary up to 230 people. The oldest aircraft is 13 years old and the youngest is 7.5.
- The airline has 8 units of Boeing 757-200 aircraft. The layout assumes the presence of one class of service and seats up to 189 passengers. The age of these aircraft varies from 12 years to 21 years.
- The fleet also has 16 Boeing 767-300 airliners that can accommodate up to 300 people with one service class. The oldest aircraft is 20 years old and the youngest is 14.
- Boeing 777-200 is present in the amount of 3 units. With a layout with one service class, the capacity reaches 550 passengers, and with two - 305. The oldest aircraft is 16.5 years old and the youngest is 10.
Baggage Allowance
North Wind Airlines sets baggage allowances in accordance with the ticket fare. The weight of hand luggage, which is included in the free rate, should not exceed 5 kg.
Baggage of a passenger who buys a ticket at an economical fare, up to 20 kg, is carried free of charge. For passengers with tickets at the business fare, this rate has been increased to 40 kg.
Prospects
In 2015, the North Wind airline reduced the size of its fleet by almost a third. This was done in order to optimize it. This step was necessary due to the low demand for passenger transportation on popular tourist routes. After optimizing the loading of flights, they began to correspond to the carrying capacities of airliners.
In the future, it is also planned to get a new Boeing 737-800 and replace other aircraft with newer ones. In particular, in 2016 it is planned to purchase three domestically produced MS-21 aircraft. Some branches of the company in the regions will be closed.
Flights
"North wind" appeared on the air transportation market relatively recently, but it has a fairly wide geography of flights, numbering more than a hundred destinations, depending on the season. The main office of the company is located in the capital's Sheremetyevo Airport. There are also bases in the air harbors of Krasnoyarsk and Novosibirsk.
Flights of the North Wind airline are carried out both in domestic and international (countries of the Asian region, Europe, Central and South America) directions. Passengers are attracted by special fares and ticket discounts.
The route network is constantly expanding and adapting to more popular destinations. To date, the route network consists of the following routes:
- From Moscow - Aqaba, Bangkok, Varadero, Kamran, Cancun, Monastir, Punta Cana, Phuket, Eilat.
- From Samara - Bangkok, Phuket.
- From Orenburg - Kamran.
- From St. Petersburg - Eilat.
Air accidents
In the entire history of the airline, there have been only two incidents.
The first occurred in April 2013, when the airliner operated a flight in the direction of Sharm El Sheikh - Kazan. During the flight of Syrian airspace, the flight crew drew attention to the explosions of missiles, which allegedly fired from the ground. As a result of this, it was decided to increase the height to 36,000 feet. After investigating this incident, the federal agency Rosaviatsia forbade passenger flights over Syria until the end of the civil war on its territory.
The second incident occurred in December of the same year with an airplane following the route St. Petersburg - Goa. Almost immediately after take-off, there was a depressurization in the cockpit, as a result of which the plane was forced to land at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport.
Nordwind airlines: passenger reviews
What do his customers think about the carrier?
Of the positive reviews, the following points can be noted:
- relatively low airfare;
- punctuality;
- fresh, hot food ;
- courtesy and friendliness of staff when serving on board;
- speed and quality of onboard service;
- quick baggage claim at the airport of arrival;
- cleanliness and well-groomed interior;
- low percentage of delays and flight cancellations;
- special attention to children;
- passengers with children are provided with comfortable seats.
Of the negative points, we can distinguish:
- old airplanes;
- narrow space between seats in the cabin;
- narrow aisles;
- flight transfer one day before departure;
- not all light bulbs come on above passenger seats;
- some planes do not have air conditioning;
- dishonesty of the representatives of the carrier in the registration room.
Summarizing
8 years ago, the North Wind airline appeared in Russia. The aircraft fleet has become much larger during this time, and the geography of flights has also expanded. The airline's activity consists of charter flights to popular destinations for Russian tourists. The schedule is focused on the seasonal demand for a particular direction. Priorities are safety and comfort for each passenger. In most cases, passengers are satisfied with the services provided by the company.