OREANDA-NEWS. January 15, 2013. Transaero Airlines, Russia’s second largest airline, witnessed record operational results in 2012. The airline has passed a new benchmark in its history: for the first time ever since its foundation the airline’s passenger traffic exceeded 10 million in one year.

In 2012 Transaero Airlines was named the Best Airline in the Eastern Europe by Skytrax agency. Transaero was also awarded with the prestigious ATW Airline Market Leadership Award. According to Airline Business, Transaero is the sixth largest air carrier in the world in terms of passenger traffic on routes to leisure destinations.

In 2012 Transaero carried on with its ongoing fleet expansion and renovation program. In the end of 2011 the Company’s fleet consisted of 78 aircraft. And today the total number of the airline’s aircraft reached 94, including twenty four Boeing 747s, thirteen Boeing 777s, fifteen 767s, thirty nine 737s and three Tupolev 214s. Transaero has the largest fleet of long-haul wide-body jetliners in Russia, the CIS and Eastern Europe. In 2012 Transaero firmed contracts for the acquisition of brand-new Airbus A380, Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft.

Transaero continued its route network expansion with new flights to a number of domestic and international destinations. This year the airline launched regular flights to Kaliningrad, Kemerovo, Yerevan, Paris, Milan, Venice, Los Angeles, and Malaga. Transaero pays particular attention to developing direct non-stop services from Russian regions to popular international leisure destinations. The airline’s winter program includes as many as 41 such routes. For the first time in its history Transaero launched international flights from a number of Siberian and Ural cities operating Boeing 747s.

Transaero actively participates in implementation of the State Program for development of regional air transportation in Russia that provides subsidies for flights of residents of the Russia’s Far East. In 2012 Transaero carried more than 133,000 passengers who took advantage of the Program, which is a 46% increase over the previous year. The airline operates wide-body Boeing 777 and Boeing 747-400 aircraft on the routes from Moscow to the Far East.

In 2012 Virgin Atlantic and Transaero Airlines signed a codeshare agreement on the Moscow – London route, with flights bearing the shared UN/VS code. At the same time the flights of Virgin Atlantic between London and Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston and Orlando are performed under the joint UN/VS code.

Today Transaero performs flights from all three international airports in Moscow – Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo. This significantly expands travel opportunities available for passengers.

Transaero Airlines plans to set up a new modern transit center at Vnukovo airport to optimize its connecting flight schedule for flights between cities in Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine and the US and Western Europe for convenience and comfort of passengers.

Transaero Airlines has taken an important step to enhance travel possibilities for its passengers at Vnukovo airport through a multilateral agreement signed with UTair Aviation on establishment of interline connections and application of through fares for transportation via Vnukovo Airport in Moscow. Passengers of both airlines are now able to take advantage of special through fare rates for connections at the new Terminal A at Vnukovo to dozens of cities in Russia, the CIS, the US and Western Europe.

Sheremetyevo airport was a base for the Transaero’s large scale program of flights to international leisure destinations.

With a view to enhance its inflight customer services Transaero started to introduce high speed broadband Internet and mobile communications services on board.

In 2012 Transaero started a comprehensive aircraft interior refurbishing program which includes full redesign in all classes on all aircraft in the fleet, replacement of all seats, plastic details and more. Some aircraft will have seat covers replacement with Alcantara textiles.

Transaero permanently enhances its onboard catering. In 2012 a new Russian-style tea ceremony was introduced for the airline’s passengers traveling in Business and Imperial classes.

A new updated version of the airline’s mobile web-site Transaero.Mobi was launched in 2012. The web-site offers comprehensive information on the Company and available services, including flight schedule, ticket sales, mobile check-in, and access to Transaero Privilege loyalty program, online timetable and feedback.

Transaero signed an agreement on cooperation with Euroset, Russia’s largest handset retailer. Now a passenger can make a payment for a booked ticket at any Euroset retail outlet with no fees charged for the retailer’s service.

Transaero’s passengers flying to Anadyr, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk received an opportunity to perform their flight with exclusive comfort of Imperial class for a price of a business class ticket.

Starting from the end of 2012 Transaero Airlines’ passengers traveling in Economy and Tourist classes can take advantage of free access to video entertainment on board the Boeing 777-300 and Boeing 747-400 aircraft equipped with Lumexis InFlight Entertainment (IFE) system.

Transaero is adherent to the principles of high responsibility to its passengers, personnel, and society. In 2012 the airline was honored with the “Best Company to Work For and Make Carrier At” title.

Transaero Airlines offers free air transportation for veterans of the Second World War, provides support for children battling to overcome cancer, carries out volunteer projects run by Transaero employees. In 2012 Transaero was the only Russian airline to be awarded with the highest rating for corporate social responsibility (AAAs) by the Reputation rating agency.

The Transaero’s Corporate Charitable Program was ranked among top three best programs in the Russian Federation according to the results of the research carried out by Russia’s business newspaper Vedomosti and PricewaterhouseCoopers.