Cobalt Air launches flights to Russia

The carrier's fleet comprises six Airbus A320 family aircraft (Spotter LEVT / Wikimedia)

Cyprus-based Cobalt Air has commenced operations to Russia. The first flight from Pathos to Moscow’s Sheremetyevo was performed on October 29, the Russian airport reports. Flights to Russia’s capital will be operated twice per week with 156-seat Airbus A320s.

Cobalt Air announced its intention to begin flying to Moscow in August this year. The initial plan was to launch in summer, but the carrier took longer to formalize its presence on the Russian market.

In August 2017, Cobalt Air CEO Andrew Madar told Russian Aviation Insider that the airline was also considering St. Petersburg as a destination. No other cities in Russia seemed to be of interest to the operator at the time.

Cobalt Air’s fleet comprises six Airbus A320s. The airline’s website reads that one more of the type is to be delivered by year-end. The operator’s existing aircraft are being leased from ICBC, GECAS, CIT, and Jet Midwest/Alterna. Maintenance is outsourced. There are plans to take on two A330 widebodies further down the road.

The carrier went official in June 2016 with scheduled services, which currently include flights to 16 cities in 10 countries, including London, Manchester, Paris, Geneva, and Madrid.

Cobalt Air positions itself as a hybrid carrier, which basically means being on the fence between LCC and full-service.