OREANDA-NEWS. UTair Group, the largest international aviation group with operations on four continents, has shown significant growth across performance indicators in 2013. For the first time in its history, the number of passengers carried has exceeded 10 million. Up from 5.7 million in 2010, this represents double the volume of passengers carried over a three year period. The accelerated development of the company and improved quality management have been supported by a comprehensive fleet renewal program, the optimization of UTair Group corporate structure and the implementation of advanced methods of commercial airline management incorporating cutting edge technologies. Passenger load factor grew to 77.2% in 2013, a 3.9% increase over 2012. The volume of transfer passengers has significantly increased as a result of establishing the UTair hub at Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow from where the airline performs 110 flights to Russian cities daily. The integration of new technologies and passengers service platforms has significantly decreased transfer time in the airport.

The UTair Group results for 2013 demonstrate the airlines strengthened positions among the top three Russian airlines.

In the reporting period from January to December 2013, UTair Group aircraft transported a combined total of 10,413,803 passengers representing an increase of 10.96% over the same period in 2012. Passenger turnover increased by 15.7% over same period in 2012 and accounted for 18,591,544,700 pkm.

More than 160 aircraft and 350 helicopters were involved in the execution of the Group's operational program. The UTair Group fleet logged a total of 473,767 flight hours in the January-December period of 2013 and delivered 171,580.79 tons of cargo.

In 2013 the Group's fleet was expanded with the addition of four Airbus A321 aircraft in line with the contract for 20 aircraft for Airbus to be delivered between 2013 and 2016 and with one Boeing 737-800 - the first of 40 aircraft of this type to be delivered in terms of a contract.

At the MAKS-2013 International Air and Space Show in Zhukovsky Russia, the UTair signed an agreement with VEB-Leasing and Sukhoi Civil Aircraft for operational leasing of six Sukhoi Superjet 100 LR aircraft to be delivered in 2014.

The UTair Group rotor wing fleet also continued to grow. In September 2013 the 20th Eurocopter helicopter joined the fleet, completing contract for the delivery of 20 AS 350/355 Ecureuil helicopters signed in 2010.

In 2013 more than 30 new flights were launched on domestic and international routes. New international flights include routes from St. Petersburg to Budapest, from Moscow to Dresden, Odessa, Nalchik, Yekaterinburg and Chelyabinsk, from Rostov-on-Don to Frankfurt-am-Main, from Surgut to Belgorod, Cheboksary, Chelyabinsk, Bugulma and Dushanbe and other new routes. Flight frequency between Moscow and Tyumen, Perm and Voronezh was increased. In the summer of 2013, flights on several special routes were performed, including from Kursk to Simferopol and from Kursk to Anapa and Sochi. In partnership with Southern Cross travel agency flights were launched from Tyumen, Surgut and Yekaterinburg to Sanya on Hainan Island in the South China Sea.

UTair's participation in the State Program for Subsidized Air Operations in the Volga Federal District contributed to the increase of passenger volume in connection with the region more than 75% in comparison to 2012. New regular service from Ufa to Perm was launched.

To strengthen MRO performance, advanced MRO enterprises in Ufa for Boeing 727 and Sukhoi Superjet aircraft were established with the support of the Government of the Bashkortostan Republic.

In 2013 UTair Group helicopters performed a wide range of operations including those of increased difficulty serving long time customers - the largest enterprises in the Russian oil and gas industry. Operations included the transportation of oversized cargo, passenger and VIP transport, installation works, fly-over visual inspection of oil pipelines and power lines, medical evacuations and search and rescue operations. UTair helicopter operations were performed in Russia as well as in Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa.

2013 also marked another year of successful cooperation with the UN. Despite extremely competitive international conditions, UTair remains the largest UN subcontractor of air transport operations.

The UTair Group business plan for 2014 includes continued effort towards growth in passenger volume and operational figures and launching 22 new aircraft into operation, including six Sukhoi Superjet 100, and implementing new IT systems.

The UTair Group includes airlines conducting passenger and cargo operations with fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft as well as enterprises offering MRO, personnel training, flight services and air transportation sales services. UTair Aviation is the Group's core enterprise and includes UTair-Express, UTair-Ukraine, UTair CJSC, UTair-Helicopter services, Turuhan Airlines, Vostok Airlines, Katekavia, Helisur, UTair Europe, UTair South Africa, UTair India, UTair-Technik, UTair-Engineering, Ural Aviation Services, UТair-TG, UTair-Armenia and other enterprises. UTair Group headquarters are situated in Surgut. Subsidiaries are located in Surgut, Tyumen, Khanty-Mansyisk, Moscow and in other cities in Russia and the world.