Ahead of the cold Siberian winter Novosibirsk Tolmachevo International Airport in Russia is preparing for the introduction of six new routes, including notable new services to Hong Kong, Munich and Sharjah. The airport is already the busiest in Siberia and the sixth busiest in Russia, handling over 2.76 million passengers in 2011, up more than a fifth on the previous year.
The main growth this winter will be driven by S7 Airlines which is currently the largest operator at the airport with a 25.2 per cent share of departures this month and a 29.2 per cent share of seat capacity. The Oneworld alliance member will launch new flights to Hong Kong, Munich, Fergana in Uzbekistan and Kulyab in Tajikistan which will be operated either through its own brand or that of its charter division Globus Airlines.
The new schedules will kick-off from October 29, 2012 when the twice weekly service to Hong Kong is launched. This will be the first direct scheduled service from Novosibirsk and Hong Kong since Russian independence. A weekly service to Fergana will be introduced from October 30, 2012. The Tajik city of Kulyab, another new network point from Novosibirsk will be served on a weekly basis from November 3, 2012, while a weekly flight to Munich will begin from December 23, 2012. This latter route was served for a limited time in 2004 and 2005 by S7 Airlines, according to data from OAG Analyser.
Elsewhere, additional routes will be introduced from Novosibirsk Tolmachevo International this winter by two other carriers – AZAL Azerbaijan Airlines and Russian operator Oreanair. AZAL will launch a weekly service to Gyanja, Azerbaijan's second largest city from November 30, 2012, while Orenair will fly once every ten days on a charter basis to Shrajah in the United Arab Emirates from October 23, 2012. This route was also previously served by S7 Airlines on a scheduled basis between February 1998 and January 1999 using a Tupolev Tu-154.
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