OREANDA-NEWS. December 20, 2013, NOVOSIBIRSK International Airport marked a year since An-148-100E started its operation: the newest, “freshly” manufactured aircraft of Angara airlines provided flight services on Irkutsk - Novosibirsk - Irkutsk route.

Currently, the airport has direct scheduled air links provided by An-148-100E aircraft with such cities as Chelyabinsk (each Wednesday), Irkutsk (on weekdays), Mirny (each Tuesday and Thursday) and Blagoveshchensk (each Monday and Friday). Flight services on this aircraft type are performed by Angara airlines.

An-148-100E is manufactured by Voronezh Aircraft Construction Association OJSC (VASO). The aircraft modification envisages operation in ultra-low temperatures (maximum - 52°C), natural icing and at high altitudes(1,500 m).

Following the results in January - November 2013, Novosibirsk Tolmachevo airport served over 35 thousand passengers of Angara airlines transported on An-148-100E.

NOVOSIBIRSK International Airport is the largest air hub in Russia east of the Urals on major transit routes between Europe and Asia. The domestic terminal capacity makes up to 1,800 passengers per hour, while the capacity on international flights - up to 750 passengers per hour. The airport has two runways. In 2013 it expects to serve over 3.7 million passengers.

Angara Airlines belongs to one of the major regional air carriers in East Siberia which provides regular passenger flights within the Irkutsk region and the Siberian Federal District as well as operates charter flights in the whole territory of Russia.The company was established in 2000, it is a member of Eastland group of companies. The airline's fleet comprises 3 An-148, 7 An-24, 3 An-26-100, 2 An-2 aircraft and 11 Mi-8 helicopters of various modifications.

An-148-100E is a short-haul, narrow-body passenger aircraft designed by Antonov Aeronautical Scientific Technical Complex (Antonov ASTC). The aircraft are manufactured by Voronezh Aircraft Construction Association OJSC (VASO) jointly with the mass production plant “Antonov” in Kiev, a branch of the Antonov State Enterprise. Maximum take-off weight - 43,700 kg; seating capacity - 75 passengers; flight range - 4,400 km. The modification is in operation since 2009.