Babyflot is the informal name given to any airline in the former Soviet Union created in the early 1990s from the dissolution of Aeroflot as part of the breakup of the Soviet Union. The word is a portmanteau of baby and Aeroflot (compare Baby Bells).
There were between 300 and 800 Babyflots, with many being single-plane operations, while international routes were operated separately as Aeroflot—Russian International Airlines (ARIA).[1][2] By 1994, many Babyflots were bankrupt, hampered by a lack of capital and a poor economy, which in turn led to abysmal safety records. These safety issues had become so endemic to the "Babyflot" airlines that in 1994 the International Air Transport Association took the unusual step of recommending trains for people traveling the former Soviet Union, as it was considered the least life-threatening form of conveyance.[3]
In 1998, Russia had 315 airlines but expected the number to drop to 8 federal air carriers and 40 to 45 regional airlines by 2000 as the government began restricting licensing and certification and bring air-safety standards into compliance with international standards.[4]
List of notable Babyflots
Some Babyflots are now flag carriers of former Soviet countries, such as Uzbekistan Airlines.
| Name | Original Aeroflot Subdivision and Home Airport | Status as of 2025 | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd Arkhangelsk United Aviation Division | 2nd Arkhangelsk UAD of Arkhangelsk ACA, Vaskovo | Active | |
| 2nd Sverdlovsk Air Enterprise | 2nd Sverdlovsk UAD of Ural ACA, Ukrus[5] | Defunct (2011) | |
| Abakan Avia | Abakan UAD of Krasnoyarsk ACA, Abakan[6] | Defunct (2024) | Rebranded as Royal Flight in 2014 |
| Abkhazian Airlines | Sukhumi UAD of Georgian ACA, Babushara | Active | |
| Aeroflot | Central Administration of International Air Traffic, Sheremetyevo[7] | Active | |
| Air Kharkov | Kharkov UAD of Ukrainian ACA, Kharkiv[8] | Defunct (2018) | |
| Air Moldova | Various UADs of Moldavian ACA[9] | Defunct (2023) | |
| Air Ukraine | Various UADs of Ukrainian ACA[10] | Defunct (2004) | |
| Air Volga | Volgograd UAD of North Caucasian ACA,[11] Gumrak | Defunct (2010) | Also known as VolgaAviaExpress. Acquired by RusLine in 2010 with RusLine adopting Air Volga branding. |
| Airzena | Tbilisi UAD of Georgian ACA,[12] Tbilisi | Active | Rebranded as Georgian Airways in 2004 |
| Arkhangelsk Airlines | 1st Arkhangelsk UAD of Arkhangelsk ACA, Talagi | Active | Was a subsidiary of Aeroflot under name "Aeroflot-Nord" in 2004–2009, renamed Nordavia in 2009, rebranded as Smartavia in 2019 |
| Armenian Airlines | 1st and 2nd Yerevan UADs of Armenian ACA,[13] Zvartnots | Defunct (2004) | Not to be confused with active company with same name operating since 2022 |
| ARP 410 Airlines | Kiev Aviation Industrial Association "50 years of October" of Ministry of Aviation Industry, Sviatoshyn[14] | Defunct (2007) | |
| ATRAN | Moscow Air Enterprise of Ministry of Aviation Industry, Zakharkovo, Myachkovo, Zhukovsky, Domodedovo[15] | Active | |
| Azerbaijan Airlines | Various UADs of Azerbaijan ACA[16] | Active | |
| Baikal Airlines | Irkutsk UAD of East-Siberian ACA | Defunct (2001) | Acquired by Siberian Airlines in 2001 |
| BAL Bashkirian Airlines | Ufa UAD of Privolzhye ACA, Ufa[17] | Defunct (2007) | |
| Belavia | Various UADs of Belarusian ACA[18] | Active | |
| Belgorod Air Enterprise | Belgorod UAD of ACA of Central regions,[19] Belgorod | Defunct (2005) | |
| Bravia (Bryansk Air Enterprise) | Bryansk UAD of ACA of Central regions,[20] Bryansk | Defunct (2006) | |
| Bugulma Air Enterprise | Bugulma UAC of Privolzhye ACA,[21][22] Bugulma | Defunct (2015) | Rebranded as Ak Bars Aero in 2010 |
| Buryatia Airlines (Bural) | Ulan-Ude UAD of East Siberian ACA, Ulan-Ude[23] | Defunct (2016) | |
| ChitaAvia | Chita UAD of East Siberian ACA, Kadala[24] | Defunct (2004) | Acquired by VIM Airlines in 2004 |
| Dagestan Airlines | Makhachkala UAD of North Caucasian ACA, Uytash[25] | Defunct (2011) | Rebranded as South East Airlines in 2010 |
| Dalavia | Khabarovsk UAD, Far Eastern ACA, Khabarovsk-Novy[26] | Defunct (2008) | |
| Domodedovo Airlines | Domodedovo Production association of Civil Aviation, Domodedovo[27] | Defunct (2008) | Was part of AiRUnion alliance, which went bankrupt in 2008 |
| Donavia | Rostov-on-Don UAC or North Caucasian ACA, Rostov-on-Don[28] | Defunct (2016) | Purchased by Aeroflot in 2000, was branded as Aeroflot-Don in 2000–2009. Merged into Rossiya Airlines in 2016. |
| Estonian Air | Various UADs of Estonian ACA[29] | Defunct (2015) | |
| FlyLAL-Lithuanian Airlines | Vilnius UAD of Lithuanian ACA,[30] Vilnius | Defunct (2009) | |
| Gomelavia | Gomel UAD of Belarusian ACA,[31] Gomel | Defunct (2011) | |
| Izhavia | Izhevsk UAD of Ural ACA,[32] Izhevsk | Active | |
| Kavminvodyavia | Mineralnye Vody Production Association of Civil Aviation,[33] Mineralnye Vody | Defunct (2011) | |
| Kazakhstan Airlines | Various UADs of Kazakh ACA[34] | Defunct (1996) | Was declared bankrupt in 1996, with its assets transferred to newly founded Air Kazakhstan |
| Kazan Air Enterprise | 2nd Kazan UAD of Privolzhye ACA,[35] Kazan | Active | |
| Kemerovo Aviation Enterprise | Kemerovo UAD of West Siberian ACA,[36] Kemerovo | Defunct (1997) | |
| Khakassia | Abakan UAD of Krasnoyarsk ACA, Abakan[37] | Defunct (2003) | Acquired by Vladivostok Air in 2003 |
| KomiAvia | Syktyvkar UAD of Komi ACA, Syktyvkar | Defunct (1998) | After bankruptcy in 1998, reorganized into Komiaviatrans |
| Kostroma Air Enterprise | Kostroma UAD of ACA of Central regions,[38] Kostroma | Active | |
| KrasAir | Various UADs of Krasnoyarsk ACA[39] | Defunct (2009) | Was part of AiRUnion alliance, which went bankrupt in 2008 |
| Kuban Airlines | Krasnodar UAD of North Caucasian ACA,[40] Pashkovsky | Defunct (2013) | |
| Kyrgyzstan Airlines | Various UADs of Kyrgyz ACA[41] | Defunct (2005) | After bankruptcy in 2005 acquired by Altyn Air, which was rebranded as Kyrgyzstan Air Company in 2006 |
| Latavio | Various UADs of Latvian ACA, including 1st Riga UAD at Skulte and 2nd Riga UAD at Spilve[42] | Defunct (1996) | |
| Mavial Magadan Airlines | Magadan UAD of Magadan ACA,[43] Sokol | Defunct (2007) | |
| Moldaeroservice | Beltsy UAD of Moldavian ACA,[44] Bălți | Active | |
| Mirny Air Enterprise | Mirny UAD of Yakutian ACA,[45] Mirny | Active | Rebranded as Alrosa in 1995 |
| Murmansk Airlines | Murmansk UAD of Leningrad (Northern) ACA,[46] Murmashi | Defunct (2018) | After bankruptcy in 1999 sold to Norilsk Nickel and reorganized as Murmansk Aviation Company, which only performed helicopter operations; rebranded as "Arktika" in 2015, ceased operations in 2018 |
| Nefteyugansk Air Enterprise | Nefteyugansk UAD of Tyumen ACA, Nefteyugansk | Active | |
| Nikolaevsk-na-Amure Air Enterprise | Nikolaevsk-na-Amure UAD, Far Eastern ACA,[47] Nikolayevsk-on-Amur | Defunct (2004) | |
| Nizhny Novgorod Airlines | Gorky UAD of Privolzhye ACA,[48] Strigino | Defunct (2002) | |
| Norilsk Air Enterprise | Norilsk UAD of Krasnoyarsk ACA, Alykel[49] | Defunct (2002) | After bankruptcy in 2002 split into multiple companies, including airlines Taymyr (later rebranded NordStar, active) and Zapolyariye (defunct in 2010) |
| Novosibirsk Air Enterprise | Novisibirsk UAD of West Siberian ACA,[50] Novisibirsk-Severny | Defunct (2011) | |
| Omskavia | Omsk UAD of West Siberian ACA,[51] Omsk-Central | Defunct (2009) | Was part of AiRUnion alliance, which went bankrupt in 2008 |
| Orenair | Orenburg UAD of Privolzhye ACA,[52] Orenburg-Central | Defunct (2016) | Acquired by Rossiya Airlines in 2016 |
| Perm Airlines | Perm UAD of Ural ACA,[53] Bolshoye Savino | Defunct (2009) | |
| Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Air Enterprise | Kamchatka UAD of Far Eastern ACA,[54] Yelizovo | Active | |
| Pskovavia | Pskov UAD of Leningrad (Northern) ACA,[55] Pskov | Defunct (2019) | |
| Pulkovo Airlines | Leningrad UAD, Leningrad (Northern) ACA,[56] Pulkovo | Defunct (2006) | In 2006, reorganized into state transport company "Rossiya", which became Rossiya Airlines in 2011 |
| Sakha Avia | Various UADs of Yakutian ACA[57] | Defunct (2002) | Merged with Yakutian Airlines to form Air Company Yakutia. |
| Samara Airlines | Kuybyshev UAD of Privolzhye ACA,[58] Kurumoch | Defunct (2009) | Was part of AiRUnion alliance, which went bankrupt in 2008 |
| Saransk Air Enterprise | Saransk UAD of Privolzhye ACA,[59] Saransk | Defunct (2013) | After bankruptcy in 2006, reorganized into Mordovia Airlines, which ceased operations in 2013 |
| Saravia | Saratov UAD of Privolzhye ACA,[60] Saratov-Central | Defunct (2018) | Later operated under names Ivolga, Saratov Airlines |
| SAT Airlines | Sakhalin UAD of Far Eastern ACA, Khomutovo[61] | Defunct (2013) | Merged with Vladivostok Air to form Aurora, with Aurora inheriting ICAO code of SAT Airlines (SHU) |
| Siberia Airlines | Tolmachevo UAD of West Siberian ACA,[62] Tolmachevo | Active | Rebranded as S7 Airlines in 2005 |
| Stigl | Grozny UAD of North Caucasian ACA,[63] Grozny | Defunct (1995) | Formed by separatist government of Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. Never obtained official registration from Russian or international aviation authorities, performed flights from Grozny to Turkey and Arab countries. Most aircraft were destroyed on 01.12.1994 by Russian airstrikes during First Chechen war. |
| Tajik Air | Various UADs of Tajik ACA[64] | Active | |
| Tomskavia | Tomsk UAD of West Siberian ACA,[65] Bogashovo | Defunct (2015) | |
| TyumenAviaTrans | Various UADs of Tyumen ACA[66] | Active | Rebranded as UTair Aviation in 1999 |
| Ural Airlines | 1st Sverdlovsk UAD of Ural ACA, Koltsovo[67] | Active | |
| Uzbekistan Airways | Various UADs of Uzbek ACA[68] | Active | |
| Vladivostok Air | Vladivostok UAD of Far Eastern ACA, Knevichi[69] | Defunct (2013) | Merged with SAT Airlines to form Aurora |
| Vnukovo Airlines | Vnukovo Production association of Civil Aviation,[70] Vnukovo | Defunct (2001) | After bankruptcy acquired by Siberia Airlines |
| Vologda Aviation Enterprise | Vologda UAD of Leningrad (Northern) ACA,[71] Vologda | Active | |
| Voronezhavia | Voronezh UAD of ACA of Central regions,[72] Chertovitskoye | Defunct (2003) |
References
- ^ "DISSECTING THE AEROFLOT BREAKUP". Chicago Tribune. December 11, 1994.
- ^ Kramer, Andrew E. (April 3, 2019). "Natalia Fileva, Leader in Russia’s ‘Babyflot’ Airlines, Dies at 55". The New York Times
- ^ "Do Russian airlines still have a safety problem?". The Daily Telegraph. February 12, 2018.
- ^ "Russia Plans To Clip Wings Of `Babyflot' Airline Fleet". Seattle Times. January 16, 1998.
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- ^ "Stigl - Карточка оператора". Russianplanes.net. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
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Further reading
- Tavernise, Sabrina. "TRAVEL ADVISORY: CORRESPONDENT'S REPORT; Aeroflot Without Fear In Today's Russia." The New York Times. October 20, 2002.
See also
- Breakup of CAAC into government authority CAAC, Air China as flag carrier and international routes, and other 6 regional airlines, 1985-1990