OREANDA-NEWS. January 20, 2011. Kuban Airlines has tallied its results for 2010, which show steady growth in passenger numbers. The airline carried 666,454 passengers, or 21.71% more than the 547,579 it flew in 2009. Last year's total included 542,762 passengers on scheduled domestic and international flights, up 13.92% from 476,450 in 2009; and a 73.9% increase to 123,692 on charter flights.

The airline's planes carried out 5,148 flights in total, up 16.39% from 2009, including growth of 13.52% for scheduled flights and 33.49% for charter flights. Seat occupancy rose 0.8% to 60.7%, and flight time rose from 21,341 hours in 2009 to 24,932 hours in 2010.

Marina Bukalova, the General Director of Kuban Airline, commented:

"Kuban Airlines achieved growth as competition in the Krasnodar Territory's air travel market continued to strengthen. It is now clear that the company is capable not only of operating steadily, but also of developing in new areas, implementing long-term fleet renewal programs, expanding flights geographically, modernizing sales technology and improving the quality of services, in line with the expectations of passengers.

2010 was a year of major changes for Kuban Airlines. We rebranded, and we added three Boeings, which were delivered to Krasnodar in their new livery, to our fleet. Augmenting the fleet enabled the airline to expand its own route network out of key airports in the south to new domestic and international destinations. And we do not intend to stop there, but to continue to grow the route network actively in 2011. Our strategic plans are intended to strengthen the airline's foothold as a brand-name carrier to the Krasnodar Territory's resorts."