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Nordwind Airlines, LLC (Russian: ООО «Северный ветер», meaning “North Wind”), is a Russian leisure airline headquartered at Leningradskaya St 25, Khimki, Moscow Oblast, Russia. Founded in August 2008 by the Russian and Turkish branches of tour operator Pegas Touristik, Nordwind operates from its main hub at Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO). Initially focused on charter flights, it now serves over 85 domestic and international destinations, including cities in Russia, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Thailand, Vietnam, China, and the Caribbean. With a fleet of 33 aircraft, including Boeing 737s, 777s, Airbus A321s, and A330s, Nordwind carried approximately 4 million passengers in 2024. Known for affordable fares and a frequent flyer program, Nordwind Club, the airline holds a 3-Star Skytrax rating but faces criticism for delays, strict baggage policies, and poor customer service. Operations were significantly impacted by the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, leading to suspended international flights and sanctions affecting its fleet.
Nordwind began with three Boeing 757-200s, serving six charter destinations for Pegas Touristik. Its first flight was in 2008 from Moscow to Antalya. By 2013, it expanded to scheduled flights, with a notable incident on April 29, 2013, when a jet from Sharm El Sheikh to Kazan evaded two surface-to-air missiles over Syria, landing safely. In 2017, Nordwind acquired two Airbus A330s, boosting long-haul capacity. A controversial 2019 operation transported 7.4 tons of Venezuelan gold ($300 million) to Uganda, allegedly supporting Nicolás Maduro’s regime, drawing U.S. scrutiny. The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine halted international flights, with leased aircraft returned to lessors and U.S./EU sanctions extended to Nordwind’s Airbus fleet in August 2022. Despite setbacks, Nordwind resumed select routes in 2023, including Tashkent and Yerevan, and ranks among Russia’s top 10 airlines by passenger turnover.
Nordwind operates from SVO’s Terminal B, with check-in counters open 2 hours prior to departure. Its network includes 25 domestic routes (e.g., Simferopol to 25 Russian cities) and international destinations in 12 countries, such as Armenia, Uzbekistan, Thailand, Vietnam, China, and Cuba. It operates 500 weekly flights, with 60% scheduled and 40% charter, achieving an 80% load factor. No alliance membership limits codeshares, but interline agreements exist with Pegas Fly. Nordwind’s Simferopol network is Russia’s largest, with 30x passenger growth from 2016 to 2017. Cargo services are minimal, focusing on passenger luggage. On-time performance averages 75%, with frequent delays reported. Post-2022, the EU banned Nordwind flights, restricting its European operations.