S7 AIRLINES / B737-8 MAX / N57004

Brian Worthington

S7 Airlines to launch dedicated freight operations in November The Russian airline is leasing two Boeing 737-800BCF from GECAS Posted on August 13th, 2020 by Russian Aviation Insider in Air Transport, Cargo, Russia

S7 Cargo

S7 Airlines has designed a dedicated livery for its freighters (S7 Airlines)

Russia’s S7 Airlines has signed a leasing contract with GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) for two Boeing 737-800BCF (Boeing Converted Freighter) aircraft. The first delivery is scheduled for November 2020. The second aircraft is expected to join the fleet of Russia’s largest privately-owned airline in January 2021. These will be the first dedicated freight aircraft in S7 Airlines’ fleet, the airline said in a statement. The aircraft will serve medium and short-haul routes for S7.

According to the airline’s estimate, operation of these aircraft will boost its cargo capacity by 30 per cent. In the first half of 2020 S7 Airlines ranked fourth in Russia by freight volumes. It transported 28,300 tons of cargo in the period, exceeding its first half of 2019 results by 70.6 per cent. S7 Cargo, general agent for cargo operations sales of S7 Group, will manage freight services. This division of the S7 Group currently provides customs clearance and cargo processing utilizing belly capacity on S7 Airlines’ passenger planes.

“The delivery of our first freighters is a significant milestone in S7 Airlines’ cargo operations”, comments Ilya Yaroslavtsev, CEO of S7 Cargo. “The additional capacity will be used on routes with strong demand and limited capacity of baggage compartments of passenger aircraft.”

“We are delighted to support S7 Airlines in the launch of their new dedicated cargo programme,” said Richard Greener, SVP and Manager of GECAS Cargo. “The 737-800NG freighter is renowned for its efficiency and reliability, as well as its lower operational costs and better environmental credentials, making it a strong addition to a combination carrier entering the cargo market.”

While extending the useful life of the passenger 737-800NG, the 737-800BCF carries more payload – up to 23.9 tonnes (52,800 lbs) – and has longer range – 2,000 nmi (3,750 km) than other standard-body freighters. The 737-800BCF freighter also offers operators newer technology, lower fuel consumption and better reliability than standard-body freighters, says GECAS.

Whilst demand for freight transportation continues to rise across the globe driven by the need to carry medical supplies and by e-commerce spurred by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the radical decrease of airliner belly capacity has created a shortage of freight capacities. S7 Airlines was engaged in transporting medical cargo in April and May this year.


”S7 Airlines’ wide route map, our partnership with leading logistics companies and well-developed agent network enable us to carry payload and mail in relatively short time and provide efficient aircraft lading. Thanks to the new freighters, we expect to increase total volume of carried payload and mail by 30 per cent,” Yaroslavtsev says.

Russia’s first and so far only operator of 737-800BCF is Atran Airlines, part of Volga-Dnepr Group. It flies two aircraft of the type, leased from GECAS as well. 

Russian Aviation

S7 AIRLINES - B737-800W - VP-BDH - In new color S7

Varani Ennio - VRN Spotter Group

Verona Valerio Catullo Villafranca (VRN / LIPX)

S7 - SIBERIA AIRLINES - B737-8ZS(WL) - VQ-BKW (cn 37085 / 3654) In new color scheme

Varani Ennio
Verona Valerio Catullo Villafranca (VRN / LIPX), Italy

S7 SIBERIA AIRLINES - A320 NEO - F-WWTX msn 7731

Alain Charpentier - TLS

S7 Airlines debuts Embraer 170 on domestic and international routes in Russia

The oneworld alliance member has an agreement with GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) to lease 17 Embraer E170 pre-owned jets, a contract that has enabled the manufacturer to fast-track deliveries without impacting its order backlog. The first of these aircraft, former Republic Airways examples, are starting to appear from airport paintshops in the airline’s instantly recognisable green livery and all 17 units are due to arrive before the end of this year.

By Richard Maslen

Russian carrier S7 Airlines is debuting the Embraer 170 in commercial passenger operation in Russia this quarter with plans to deploy the aircraft on more than 20 city pair markets by the end of June 2017. The regional jet aircraft will be mainly used on domestic routes and international flights within the Commonwealth of Independent States, with Berlin the only current international western market scheduled to receive the aircraft. 

The oneworld alliance member has an agreement with GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) to lease 17 Embraer E170 pre-owned jets, a contract that has enabled the manufacturer to fast-track deliveries without impacting its order backlog. The first of these aircraft, former Republic Airways examples, are starting to appear from airport paintshops in the airline’s instantly recognisable green livery and all 17 units are due to arrive before the end of this year.

“Once again, GECAS joins Embraer to provide aircraft to the Russian market,” said Arjan Meijer, chief commercial officer, Embraer Commercial Aviation. “We welcome S7 Airlines to the growing E-Jets operators’ family. We are delighted to see the E170 in operation with one of the largest Russian airlines, supporting the airline as it spreads its wings around Russia.”

S7 Airlines is now the carrier with the largest network outside Moscow serving regional and intra-regional markets and the 78-seat E170s will enable it to gain momentum in the development of regional air transportation. “We see this segment as highly potential,” said Vladimir Obyedkov, chief executive officer, S7 Airlines. “Today, air transportation is concentrated in Moscow, and passengers from Ural cities often have to fly to the Far East through a connecting flight in Moscow.”

Alongside some flights out of the big cities of Moscow and St Petersburg many of the initial Embraers will be based at the Novosibirsk’s Tolmachevo International Airport and will help the airline build a hub operation in the Siberian city to link other regions and nations across the CIS. “The new type of airliners will allow us to launch flights from small and hard to reach cities, where the use of medium-haul aircrafts is impossible,” added Obyedkov.

The announcement of S7 Airlines’ firm Embraer commitment followed just a couple of months after the Brazilian manufacturer confirmed the E170 and larger E175 jet had their type certificates validated by the Federal Air Transport Agency of Russian Federation, paving the way for Russian airlines to acquire these two aircraft types. The E190 and the E195 were already certified with Saratov Airlines flying the E195 in the country.

“This opens new opportunities for the two aircraft types, which have attained significant success in other regions of the world,” said John Slattery, president and chief executive officer, Embraer Commercial Aviation. The manufacturer sees demand in Russia more than 400 aircraft in the category from 30 to 130 seats with an average age exceeding 20 years, which are natural candidates for replacement in the coming years.

The E-Jets are already well established in several countries in Russia’s vicinity – Poland, Finland, Bulgaria and the Republic of Moldova – and in CIS countries where Embraer has E-Jets customers in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Belarus and Ukraine.

Latest summer flight schedules for S7 Airlines shows that aircraft will actually be based at Moscow’s Domodedovo International Airport, Novosibirsk’s Tolmachevo International Airport and St Petersburg’s Pulkovo International Airport. Through the second quarter of 2017 the aircraft will be deployed on routes from Moscow to Astrakhan, Nizhniy Novgorod, Petrozavodsk, St Petersburg and Voronezh; from Novosibirsk to Almaty, Bishkek, Ekaterinburg, Gorno-Altaysk, Nizhnevartovsk, Nojabrsk, Novy Urengoy, Osh, Shymkent, Surgut, Tyumen and Ust-Kamenogorsk; from St Petersburg – Berlin Tegel, Bryansk and Kaliningrad; and between Tyumen and Salekhard.

This summer S7 Airlines will operate flights to 172 destinations in 28 countries around the world. Alongside introducing the Embraer 170, the carrier will also take delivery of its first Airbus A320neo this summer, becoming the first operator of this type of aircraft in Russia.

S7 Siberia Airlines - Embraer ERJ-170ST - N816MA

Matt Varley  - United Kingdom, Norwich (NWI)

S7 Airlines S17 E170 operations as of 02FEB17

S7 Airlines recently made additional adjustment to its planned Embraer E170 operations, set to enter operation in late-March 2017. Additional routes to be operated by E170 has been added, including the following.
Novosibirsk – Almaty eff 27JUL17 1 weekly (previous plan: eff 26MAR17)
Novosibirsk – Gorno-Altaysk eff 23APR17 2 weekly (3 weekly from 24MAY17)
Novosibirsk – Nizhnevartovsk eff 02APR17 4 weekly
Novosibirsk – Nojabrsk eff 02APR17 2 weekly
Novosibirsk – Novy Urengoy eff 03APR17 2 weekly
Novosibirsk – Surgut eff 01APR17 2 weekly (3 weekly from 10APR17, 5 weekly from 30APR17)
The airline has cancelled planned E170 service for Novosibirsk – Ulan-Ude route, previously scheduled from 03JUN17 (2 weekly).
Previously reported planned Embraer E170 service remains unchanged:
Moscow Domodedovo – Astrakhan eff 01JUN17 1 daily
Moscow Domodedovo – Nizhnekamsk eff 29APR17 1 daily
Moscow Domodedovo – Nizhniy Novgorod eff 26MAR17 1 daily
Moscow Domodedovo – Voronezh eff 26MAR17 2 daily
Novosibirsk – Bishkek eff 26MAR17 1 daily
Novosibirsk – Ekaterinburg eff 26MAR17 5 weekly (6 weekly from 04MAY17, 1 daily from 03JUN17)
Novosibirsk – Osh 27JUL17 – 21SEP17 1 weekly
Novosibirsk – Shymkent eff 01APR17 1 weekly (2 weekly from 02MAY17)
Novosibirsk – Tyumen eff 28MAR17 3 weekly
Novosibirsk – Ust-Kamenogorsk eff 27MAR17 2 weekly (3 weekly from 31MAY17)
Tyumen – Salekhard eff 28MAR17 3 weekly

Jim Liu Data & Analysis Manager - Airlineroute, Routesonline

S7 Group confirms Embraer Regional Jet order

Russia's S7 Group has signed a firm order agreement with Embraer (São José dos Campos) involving seventeen aircraft co-owner Natalia Fileva has disclosed.


According to Interfax, although Fileva confirmed the long-speculated deal, she did not confirm its composition although it is believed to include EMB-170 and EMB-175 machinery.

As previously reported by ch-aviation, S7 Airlines (S7, Novosibirsk) has provisionally scheduled its EMB-170 debut for March 26, 2017 with a pair of aircraft to be based at each of Moscow Domodedovo and Novosibirsk. Destinations from the former include Voronezh Chertovitskoye and Nizhniy Novgorod while from the latter they will serve Almaty (Kazakhstan), Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), Chita, and Ulan-Ude.
In preparation for their operational debut, Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) earlier this month issued type certificates for both the EMB-170 and the EMB-175 paving the way for their use by Russian operators.

ch aviation

S7 Group to lease nine B737 MAX from ALC

Russia's S7 Group has signed an agreement with US-based Air Lease Corporation for the lease of nine B737 MAX, to be operated by its Globus (GH, Novosibirsk) unit. A company spokesperson confirmed to the Vedomosti business daily that the carrier will become the launch customer of the type in Russia.
Deliveries are expected to start from September 2018.
Globus operates nineteen B737-800s on regular passenger flights throughout Russia as well as to Germany, Italy, Cyprus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Hong Kong, China, Croatia, Montenegro, Moldova, and Armenia for and on behalf of its S7 Airlines (S7, Novosibirsk) parent.

Photo:Pedro Filipe - Duss

S7 Airlines outlines E170 operations in S17

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oneWorld member S7 Airlines in recent schedule update has filed planned Embraer E170 schedule, tentatively planned for Late-March 2017 launch from Moscow and Novosibirsk. Planned operation with the 78-seater aircraft, based on OAG Schedules Analyser listing, as follow.


Moscow Domodedovo – Nizhniy Novgorod 1 daily

Moscow Domodedovo – Voronezh 2 daily

Novosibirsk – Almaty 1 daily

Novosibirsk – Bishkek 1 daily

Novosibirsk – Chita 4 weekly (Day x245)

Novosibirsk – Ulan-Ude 2 weekly (Day 26 / Day 37 from UUD)

Planned E170 operations remain subject to change.
Jim Liu - Data & Analysis Manager - Airlineroute, Routesonline

S7 to set-up Charlie Airlines in Cyprus with local investors

S7 Airlines (S7, Novosibirsk) group chief executive Vladislav Filev has detailed the carrier's plans for a new Cypriot airline. According to Filev, the new carrier, to be called Charlie Airlines, is a joint venture between S7 (to own a stake of approximately 40%) and local investors holding the remaining shares.

Filev declined to disclose the identity of the joint venture partners and whether S7 Airlines will directly own the minority stake in the carrier of if it will be the Filev family itself investing in Charlie Airlines.

Charlie plans to start operating with a fleet of two A319-100s to be sourced from S7's fleet. The launch date of the carrier has been postponed because of EASA certification delays.


Fellow start-up Cobalt (FCB, Larnaca) has meanwhile announced plans to start operations at the end of May or in early June to five destinations in the United Kingdom, Greece, Israel and Iran (with Tehran Imam Khomeini already known to be a planned destination).
ch aviation

S7 SIBERIA AIRLINES - A321-200 - VQ-BQK

Osipov Dmitry - Moscow - Domodedovo


New S7 Airlines service at Hong Kong airport

S7 Airlines, a member of the oneworld global aviation alliance, announces the introduction of a new service for passengers - through check-in of baggage from S7 own flights to ferry crossings in Hong Kong.

The service is available at eight ports connected by ferry service with Hong Kong airport - Macau (Ferry Terminal, Taipa), Zhuhai, Zhongshan, Guangzhou-Nansha, Dongguan, Shenzhen (Fuyong, Shekou).

Now passengers of S7 Airlines flights to Hong Kong, who plan to continue their journey by ferry, can register their baggage to the final destination point and will not receive it at the airport. Through check-in is also available for return trips. So, for example, a passenger can register and check-in the baggage at the port of Macau, get a baggage tag with indication of both airline and ferry crossing and pick up the baggage in Russia, in the destination point1.

S7 Airlines is the only Russian airline which provides the service of through check-in of baggage to ferry crossings in Hong Kong.

Last S7 A310-300 retired from service and parked at Novosibirsk

S7 Airlines has withdrawn its last remaining A310-300 VP-BTJ (c/n 520) originally delivered to Hapag-Lloyd in 1989 from use last month at the end of the summer season. The aircraft has now been stored at the airlines‘ homebase at Novosibirsk Tolmachevo. S7 continues to operate three B767-300ERs on long-haul routes.