Polar Airlines (, Poljarnýe avialinii) is an airline based in Yakutsk, Sakha Republic, Russia. It operates scheduled and charter passenger and cargo services. In 2022, it became part of Russia's single far-eastern airline, along with four other airlines. It is currently banned from flying in the EU.
History
The airline began operations in 1997. It was formed from the Batagai, Kolyma-Indigirka, Chukordakh and Tiksi sub-divisions of Aeroflot.
Destinations Polar Airlines operates scheduled flights to the following destinations (as of January 2013):
Russia Aldan – Aldan Airport Bratsk – Bratsk Airport Chersky – Chersky Airport Chokurdakh – Chokurdakh Airport Irkutsk – International Airport Irkutsk Lensk – Lensk Airport Neryungri – Chulman Airport Tiksi – Tiksi Airport Yakutsk – Yakutsk Airport Zyryanka – Zyryanka Airport Batagay - Batagay airport (2026)
Accidents and incidents May 16, 2003: Antonov An-3T RA-05881 force-landed 28 mi from Sangara due to engine failure caused by bad weather; all 13 on board survived, but the aircraft was written off. November 18, 2005: Antonov An-2TP RA-02252 crashed on a mountain 19 mi from Sangar in bad weather; all 12 on board survived, but the aircraft was written off. November 21, 2012: Flight 227 (performed by Antonov An-26 RA-26061) from Yakutsk to Deputatsky overshot the runway on landing by 70 metres. The airline reported an icy runway as the cause. The plane received substantial damage but no injuries were reported. July 2, 2013: Flight 9949, a Mil Mi-8 (registration RA-22657) crashed into a hill top 66 km from Deputatsky in the Sakha Republic. 19 of the 25 passengers and 3 crew were killed; of these deaths, several children were involved. 11 of the 25 passengers were children. A post-crash fire consumed the aircraft. This was the only fatal accident for the airline. August 16, 2013: Flight 9977, an Antonov An-2TP (registration RA-01419), made a forced landing near Vilyuisk following an unexplained engine problem; all 11 on board survived, but the aircraft was destroyed by a post-crash fire. October 11, 2016: Flight 203, an Antonov An-26 RA-26660 landed short of the runway at Belaya Gora Airport. The aircraft was severely damaged. All 33 people on board survived.
Fleet Current fleet , Polar Airlines operates the following aircraft: AircraftIn fleetNotesDe Havilland Canada DHC-8-Q3002Total2
As of July 2012 the Polar Airlines fleet included the following aircraft:Polar Airlines fleet Aircraft type Active Notes Antonov An-2 5 Antonov An-3T 5 Antonov An-24 6 Antonov An-263 Let L-410 4 Mil Mi-8 28 DA40NG Diamond Star 2 Pilatus PC-6 Porter 1
References
External links