The tourism sector is developing more and more. And customer demands are growing equally. Modern tourists are trying to choose more economical options or improve the quality of their vacation. When travelers decide on a destination, carrier selection begins. Azur Air is an airline that cooperates with major travel agencies in Russia and some other post-Soviet countries.
Katekavia
Azur Air is part of the Anex Tourist Group, which has been in existence for over seventeen years. It is based in Turkey and cooperates with eighteen countries. For a long time, he managed to conclude contracts with the world's most famous hotels and provides passengers with a high level of service.
The current Azur Air was previously called Katekavia. The company was founded on December 26, 1995 and initially provided flights to the regions of Siberia and the Volga region. In 2012, UTair bought out almost twenty-five percent of the shares of Katekavia. And until the spring of 2015, it was considered a subsidiary until the securities were resold.
Katekavia (current Azur Air): passenger reviews
The company has unfortunately gained some negative publicity due to two incidents. In the first case, in 2010, an accident occurred during the landing of the aircraft. As a result, twelve people died. In the second case, in 2014, an unpleasant incident occurred. The landing gear of the aircraft froze firmly to the runway, and the passengers had to push the multi-ton liner. Both cases caused a strong reaction from Kateavia's customers. And all the troubles of the carrier were described in detail in the media.
Azur Air
On December 17, 2014, the administration and the CEO changed at Kateavia. As a result, the name was changed to Azur Air. The company withdrew from the holding Anex Tourist Group and began to work closely with the major Russian tour operator Anex Tour. Until that time, Azur Air's passenger turnover was approximately 115,000 per year. But in 2015 it rose to the mark of two million. Departures from the capital of the Russian Federation are carried out from Domodedovo. Azur Air has its own Internet portal, which contains:
- all contact information and head office location;
- open vacancies;
- airline news;
- online question form;
- passenger reviews;
- online registration form:
- hand luggage and baggage rules;
- routes;
- rules of conduct for passengers on board the liner;
- photo gallery and company policy;
- publications of in-flight magazines.
Company work
Azur Air is an airline headquartered at Domodedovo Airport. There are 4 hub sites: in St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Krasnoyarsk and Rostov-on-Don. And small ones - in another thirty Russian cities. Until 2016, Azur Air (Katekavia) was a global charter carrier: in Europe, Asia, the Caribbean and the Middle East.
But since the beginning of the year, Azur Air has been awarded a state permit. And now the company can operate international flights on a regular basis. There is a significant difference between them and charter flights. Regular international flights can only be carried out by a company that has a state permit. Without it, it is prohibited by law.
What are scheduled flights?
Regular flights, which Azur Air LLC is now allowed to operate, are carried out by companies only according to a strict schedule. Therefore, the departure must take place, even if there is only one passenger on board the liner. A ticket for such a flight is a legally executed contract. According to him, the air carrier provides services. You can buy such a contract at the ticket office or on the airline's portal.
If the passenger decides to cancel the flight for some reason, he can return the ticket. In this case, only part of the cost is returned. It is determined from the type of contract drawn up by Azur Air. Tickets cost differently. It depends on when they are bought. The farther away fromdeparture - the cheaper.
If a flight is greatly delayed, then the company, and in this case Azur Air, must provide passengers with an overnight stay and provide free meals. Many carriers that are allowed scheduled flights have bonus programs.
Charter flights
Azur Air is an airline that also operates charter flights. These are custom flights in a certain direction. Regular flights in these directions are usually not carried out. In the role of the customer are mainly travel companies. Charter flight features:
- These flights are not scheduled. And in between regular flights. Most often it is late at night or early in the morning. On charter flights, it is not uncommon for departure times to change or flight delays to occur.
- You can buy a ticket only in travel agencies. Or on a special Internet portal on the day of departure. Tickets for charter flights are usually not sold at official points of sale. Reservations for such flights are excluded.
- A charter ticket is not a legally binding contract. Therefore, under force majeure circumstances, it is not possible to file a claim against the air carrier company.
- If a passenger refuses to fly (or in the event of a change in time or direction of the flight), the money for the ticket is non-refundable.
- Charter flights are not divided into classes in the cabin.
- There are no bonus programs and discounts.
But on charter flights beforeregular has its own advantage. This is a low ticket price. It can be three times lower than for regular flights in the same direction. And charter flights continue to be operated by Azur Air. Traveler feedback on such flights is very positive, despite the associated risks. The Azur Air carrier operates charter flights to:
- Spain;
- Thailand;
- Greece;
- Dominican Republic;
- Bulgaria;
- Tunisia;
- Russia;
- Cyprus
Fleet
At the end of 2015, the fleet had fourteen aircraft in operation. Mostly American manufacturer Boeing. Of these, nine models are 757-200. The maximum capacity is 238 people. The speed of the Boeing 757-200 reaches 850 kilometers per hour. The airliners of this model have been used by the company for at least fourteen years, and some for more than twenty.
There are Boeing 767 aircraft in the fleet. Azur Air is the owner of five such liners. 335 is the maximum number of passengers that can fit on a plane. It can reach speeds up to 851 kilometers per hour. The airliners of this model have been used by the company for at least seventeen years, and some for more than twenty.
"Azur Air" has acquired a new model - "Boeing-737-800". This aircraft has a maximum capacity of almost 350 passengers. And the speed of the liner reaches up to 850 kilometers per hour. On average, the "age" of the company's aircraft is at least seventeen years old. And that, by today's standards, is a lot. But even on such liners it is differenta high level of traffic, the Azur Air company. The reviews left by grateful passengers speak for themselves.
Stewardess Uniform
In 2015, during the professional holiday (Day of the conductor), "Azur Air" participated in the defile of flight attendants. The competition was held by Domodedovo Airport. More than 25 Russian and foreign airlines participated in the defile. Azur Air showcased a new uniform created by renowned designer Sedef Kalarkan.
Given the long flights that the carrier's liners make, high-tech fabrics were preferred, which are very comfortable for everyday wear. The costumes are made from quality materials. They successfully combine functionality and luxury. The harmonious combination of lines and colors that symbolize Azur Air attracts the eye.
Passenger reviews
On one of the flights to Novokuznetsk, many passengers expressed their gratitude to Azur Air and the crew of the liner. During the flight, they hit turbulence several times. At this time, the captain of the liner periodically got in touch with the passengers. They noted that it was especially pleasant that the commander tried to calm them down, and his confident voice really helped to relax.
During other flights, passengers also left positive feedback about the work of the crew. Flight attendants are always very attentive to the requests and desires of travelers. The company's customers noted the friendliness and quality of service.
Passengers alsonote the convenience of electronic registration, which can be completed on the company's Internet portal just a few hours before the flight. Comfortable distance between the seats, which is very important for people with long legs. Takeoff and landing are smooth, and blankets are immediately offered for children.
