Moscow-based Transaero has applied to the United States Department of Transportation for permission to begin service between Moscow’s Domodedovo International Airport (DME) and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), as well as Miami International Airport (MIA) this coming fall. According to the filing, Transaero plans to commence once-weekly service to Miami in October using 767-300ER aircraft, and twice-weekly service to New York in December using 747-400 equipment. Service to both cities would increase by one flight per week in summer 2011.
The routes would mark Transaero’s first scheduled service to the U.S. Currently, Aeroflot and Delta offer nonstop service between New York and Moscow. There are no scheduled flights between Miami and Moscow.
Transaero began as a charter airline in December 1990 with aircraft leased from Aeroflot. Its first charter flight was from Moscow to Tel Aviv in November 1992 and the carrier purchased its first aircraft, an Ilyushin Il-86, in July 1992. It operated its first non-Russian aircraft in April 1993, a Boeing 737-200, and its first Boeing 757 in April 1994. The airline has continued to grow both its fleet and its route map and now flies to over 70 domestic and international destinations in Russia, Europe, Australia and Canada. It has also incorporated code share agreements with BMI and Austrian Airlines. Transaero operates bases at Moscow Domodedovo International Airport and Pulkovo Airport in Saint Petersburg.
The Transaero fleet has grown to 48 aircraft with 17 on order and includes Boeing 737s (-300, -400, -500 and -800 variants), Boeing 747s (-200, -300 and -400 variants), Boeing 767s (-200ER and -300ER variants) and Boeing 777s (-200 and -200ER variants). It still operates Russian aircraft in the form of Tupolev TU-214s and has Sukhoi Superjet 100s on order.