Babyflot is the informal name given to any airline in the former Soviet Union created in the early 1990s from the dissolution of the Soviet airline monopoly held by Aeroflot, at the time of the breakup of the Soviet Union. The word is a portmanteau of baby and Aeroflot (compare Baby Bells).

In 1992 Aeroflot was divided into more than 300 regional and other smaller airlines, with many being single-plane operations. International routes were operated separately as Aeroflot—Russian International Airlines (ARIA).[1] Some airline companies created from the old Aeroflot are now flag carriers of independent post-Soviet countries, such as Uzbekistan Airlines.

Fall of the Babyflots

While there were over 800 such airlines at first, many of them had gone under by the end of 1994 due 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.[2] Several other carriers went out of business in 1995 due to low demand, as fewer passengers could afford to fly.

By 2000, Russia had only about eight federal air carriers and 40 to 45 regional airlines – down sharply from the current 315 carriers, said Ivan Valov, first deputy chief of the Russian Federal Aviation Service. The government began to restrict licensing and certification and bring air-safety standards into compliance with international standards. The "Babyflot" airlines have been blamed for a sharp decline in Russia's air safety. Many of the crashes that occurred have been blamed on poor maintenance and lax controls at many small carriers, which have neglected flight safety in their run for profit.[3]

List of notable babyflots

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
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[4] Defunct (2011)
Abakan Avia Abakan UAD of Krasnoyarsk ACA, Abakan[5] 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[6] Active
Air Kharkov Kharkov UAD of Ukrainian ACA, Kharkiv[7] Defunct (2018)
Air Moldova Various UADs of Moldavian ACA[8] Defunct (2023)
Air Ukraine Various UADs of Ukrainian ACA[9] Defunct (2004)
Air Volga Volgograd UAD of North Caucasian ACA[10], Gumrak Defunct (2010) Also known as VolgaAviaExpress. Acquired by RusLine in 2010 with RusLine adopting Air Volga branding.
Airzena Tbilisi UAD of Georgian ACA[11], 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[12], 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[13] Defunct (2007)
ATRAN Moscow Air Enterprise of Ministry of Aviation Industry, Zakharkovo, Myachkovo, Zhukovsky, Domodedovo [14] Active
Azerbaijan Airlines Various UADs of Azerbaijan ACA[15] 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[16] Defunct (2007)
Belavia Various UADs of Belarusian ACA[17] Active
Belgorod Air Enterprise Belgorod UAD of ACA of Central regions[18], Belgorod Defunct (2005)
Bravia (Bryansk Air Enterprise) Bryansk UAD of ACA of Central regions[19], Bryansk Defunct (2006)
Bugulma Air Enterprise Bugulma UAC of Privolzhye ACA[20][21], Bugulma Defunct (2015) Rebranded as Ak Bars Aero in 2010
Buryatia Airlines (Bural) Ulan-Ude UAD of East Siberian ACA, Ulan-Ude[22] Defunct (2016)
ChitaAvia Chita UAD of East Siberian ACA, Kadala[23] Defunct (2004) Acquired by VIM Airlines in 2004
Dagestan Airlines Makhachkala UAD of North Caucasian ACA, Uytash[24] Defunct (2011) Rebranded as South East Airlines in 2010
Dalavia Khabarovsk UAD, Far Eastern ACA, Khabarovsk-Novy[25] Defunct (2008)
Domodedovo Airlines Domodedovo Production association of Civil Aviation, Domodedovo[26] Defunct (2008) Was part of AiRUnion alliance, which went bankrupt in 2008
Donavia Rostov-on-Don UAC or North Caucasian ACA, Rostov-on-Don[27] 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[28] Defunct (2015)
FlyLAL-Lithuanian Airlines Vilnius UAD of Lithuanian ACA[29], Vilnius Defunct (2009)
Gomelavia Gomel UAD of Belarusian ACA[30], Gomel Defunct (2011)
Izhavia Izhevsk UAD of Ural ACA[31], Izhevsk Active
Kazakhstan Airlines Various UADs of Kazakh ACA[32] Defunct (1996) Was declared bankrupt in 1996, with it's assets transferred to newly founded Air Kazakhstan
Kazan Air Enterprise 2nd Kazan UAD of Privolzhye ACA[33], Kazan Active
Kemerovo Aviation Enterprise Kemerovo UAD of West Siberian ACA[34], Kemerovo Defunct (1997)
Khakassia Abakan UAD of Krasnoyarsk ACA, Abakan[35] Defunct (2003) Acquired by Vladivostok Air in 2003
KomiAvia Syktyvkar UAD of Komi ACA, Syktyvkar Defunct (1998) After bankruptcy in 1998, reorganized into Komiaviatrans
KrasAir Various UADs of Krasnoyarsk ACA[36] Defunct (2009) Was part of AiRUnion alliance, which went bankrupt in 2008
Kuban Airlines Krasnodar UAD of North Caucasian ACA[37], Pashkovsky Defunct (2013)
Kyrgyzstan Airlines Various UADs of Kyrgyz ACA[38] 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[39] Defunct (1996)
Mavial Magadan Airlines Magadan UAD of Magadan ACA[40], Sokol Defunct (2007)
Mirny Air Enterprise Mirny UAD of Yakutian ACA[41], Mirny Active Rebranded as Alrosa in 1995
Murmansk Airlines Murmansk UAD of Leningrad (Northern) ACA[42], 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[43], Nikolayevsk-on-Amur Defunct (2004)
Nizhny Novgorod Airlines Gorky UAD of Privolzhye ACA[44], Strigino Defunct (2002)
Norilsk Air Enterprise Norilsk UAD of Krasnoyarsk ACA, Alykel[45] Defunct (2002) After bankrupcy in 2002 split into mutliple companies, including airlines Taymyr (later rebranded NordStar, active) and Zapolyariye (defunct in 2010)
Novosibirsk Air Enterprise Novisibirsk UAD of West Siberian ACA[46], Novisibirsk-Severny Defunct (2011)
Omskavia Omsk UAD of West Siberian ACA[47], Omsk-Central Defunct (2009) Was part of AiRUnion alliance, which went bankrupt in 2008
Orenair Orenburg UAD of Privolzhye ACA[48], Orenburg-Central Defunct (2016) Acquired by Rossiya Airlines in 2016
Perm Airlines Perm UAD of Ural ACA[49], Bolshoye Savino Defunct (2009)
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Air Enterprise Kamchatka UAD of Far Eastern ACA[50], Yelizovo Active
Pskovavia Pskov UAD of Leningrad (Northern) ACA[51], Pskov Defunct (2019)
Pulkovo Airlines Leningrad UAD, Leningrad (Northern) ACA[52], Pulkovo Defunct (2006) In 2006, reorganized into state transport company "Rossiya", which became Rossiya Airlines in 2011
Sakha Avia Various UADs of Yakutian ACA[53] Defunct (2002) Merged with Yakutian Airlines to form Air Company Yakutia.
Samara Airlines Kuybyshev UAD of Privolzhye ACA[54], Kurumoch Defunct (2009) Was part of AiRUnion alliance, which went bankrupt in 2008
Saransk Air Enterprise Saransk UAD of Privolzhye ACA[55], Saransk Defunct (2013) After bankruptcy in 2006, reorganized into Mordovia Airlines, which ceased operations in 2013
Saravia Saratov UAD of Privolzhye ACA[56], Saratov-Central Defunct (2018) Later operated under names Ivolga, Saratov Airlines
SAT Airlines Sakhalin UAD of Far Eastern ACA, Khomutovo[57] 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[58], Tolmachevo Active Rebranded as S7 Airlines in 2005
Stigl Grozny UAD of North Caucasian ACA[59], 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[60] Active
Tomskavia Tomsk UAD of West Siberian ACA[61], Bogashovo Defunct (2015)
TyumenAviaTrans Various UADs of Tyumen ACA[62] Active Rebranded as UTair Aviation in 1999
Ural Airlines 1st Sverdlovsk UAD of Ural ACA, Koltsovo[63] Active
Uzbekistan Airways Various UADs of Uzbek ACA[64] Active
Vladivostok Air Vladivostok UAD of Far Eastern ACA, Knevichi[65] Defunct (2013) Merged with SAT Airlines to form Aurora
Vnukovo Airlines Vnukovo Production association of Civil Aviation[66], Vnukovo Defunct (2001) After bankruptcy acquired by Siberia Airlines
Vologda Aviation Enterprise Vologda UAD of Leningrad (Northern) ACA[67], Vologda Active
Voronezhavia Voronezh UAD of ACA of Central regions[68], Chertovitskoye Defunct (2003)

References

  1. ^ "Directory: World Airlines", Flight International (2007-04-03), p. 47. Retrieved on 2007-05-27.
  2. ^ Casino Moscow: A Tale of Greed and Adventure on Capitalism's Wildest Frontier by Matthew Brzezinski, Ch 1
  3. ^ Ivan Valov, first deputy chief of the Russian Federal Aviation Service.1/15/1998
  4. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/1346
  5. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/1359
  6. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/1277
  7. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/1449
  8. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/Air_Moldova
  9. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/134
  10. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/3397
  11. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/Georgian_Airlines_(Airzena)
  12. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/225
  13. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/1475
  14. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/1283
  15. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/123
  16. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/1317
  17. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/Belavia_-_Belarus_Airlines
  18. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/1602
  19. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/Bryansk_AO_-_Bravia
  20. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/1966
  21. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/208
  22. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/848
  23. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/ChitaAvia
  24. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/75
  25. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/35
  26. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/1
  27. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/11
  28. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/522
  29. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/Lithuanian_Airlines_-_FlyLAL
  30. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/Gomelavia
  31. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/201
  32. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/4084
  33. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/Kazanskoe_AP
  34. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/Kemerovo_AE
  35. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/1359
  36. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/27
  37. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/17
  38. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/246
  39. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/518
  40. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/Mavial_-_Magadan_Airlines
  41. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/Alrosa_-_Mirny_AE
  42. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/Murmaknsk_OAO
  43. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/1203
  44. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/1335
  45. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/2576
  46. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/249
  47. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/OmskAvia_(AirUnion)
  48. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/44
  49. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/131
  50. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy_AE
  51. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/268
  52. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/Pulkovo_AE
  53. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/1670
  54. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/Samara_Airlines_(AirUnion)
  55. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/Mordovia_Airlines_(Saransk_AE)
  56. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/Saravia_-_Saratov_Airlines
  57. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/SAT_Airlines
  58. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/5
  59. ^ "Stigl - Карточка оператора". Russianplanes.net. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  60. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/Tajikistan_Airlines
  61. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/Tomskavia
  62. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/UTair_(TymenAviaTrans_-_TAT)
  63. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/Ural_Airlines
  64. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/Uzbekistan_Airways
  65. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/Vladivostok_Air
  66. ^ "Внуковские авиалинии - ВАЛ - карточка оператора". Russianplanes.net. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  67. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/229
  68. ^ https://russianplanes.net/airline/Voronezh_Avia

Further reading

Allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babyflot
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