OREANDA-NEWS. In the January-February 2014 reporting period UTair Group aircraft transported a combined total of 1,242,818 passengers, a 2.5% increase over the same period in 2013. The Group recorded an overall growth of 16% in passenger turnover while passenger turnover on international flights increased 39.5% over the same period in 2013.

Passenger load factor for the reporting period increased 2.2%, reaching a total of 73.94%.

During the first two months of 2014 UTair Group aircraft delivered 3,573.34 tonnes of cargo. Mail transported amounted to 747.58 tonnes, a 42.4% increase reached due to an agreement with Russian Post signed in late 2013.

Growth in the volume of passengers transported and the passenger load factor with a slight increase in logged flight hours positively affect the financial result of the Group's flight operations and demonstrate improved efficiency of its route network and fleet management.

UTair Group rotor-wing aircraft logged a total of 16,777 flight hours in January-February 2014. For the reporting period UTair Group helicopter fleet delivered 7,936.95 tons of cargo and transported 87,345 passengers.

The UTair Group business plan for 2014 includes continued effort towards growth in operational figures due to increasing passenger load on flights within company's route network and launching 22 new high capacity aircraft into operation including Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Airbus А321 and Sukhoi Superjet-100.

In March 2014 UTair has taken delivery of Airbus A321 aircraft equipped with new fuel-efficient Sharklet wing tips. This is the first aircraft of this type to be delivered in Russia and the 5th of 20 such Airbus aircraft to be delivered to UTair under the terms of a contract signed in 2012. The new 2.4 meter-high Sharklets are made from composite materials and offer a 4% reduction in fuel consumption. UTair expects to receive seven more A321 aircraft by the end of 2014. UTair plans to operate these aircraft on the most popular domestic and international routes.