Nordwind Airlines

History

Nordwind Airlines was founded in August 2008 by the Russian and Turkish branches of tour operator Pegas Touristik and initially operated three Boeing 757-200s.

The number of passengers transported was as follows:

On April 29, 2013, two surface-to-air missiles were fired by unknown forces in Syria at a Nordwind Airlines jet flying from Sharm El Sheikh to Kazan. The pilots took evasive action and the plane continued onto Kazan undamaged.

In 2017, the airline acquired two used Airbus A330s.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Nordwind transported approximately 7.4 tons of gold with a market value over $300 million from Venezuela to a refinery near the airport in Entebbe, Uganda. These March 2019 shipments allegedly expose a global underground economy the United States government suspects helps Nicolás Maduro stay in power in Venezuela.

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Nordwind suspended all international flights. A number of leased aircraft, located abroad when the invasion took place have been returned to the lessors. The US Commerce Department, who had previously sanctioned US manufactured aircraft, extended sanctions to the European manufactured Airbus aircraft in Nordwind's fleet in August 2022. Sanctions have also banned Nordwind receiving spare parts for their planes.

Destinations

In 2021, Nordwind serves 98 destinations in 28 countries including nine countries and 23 cities in Europe, eight countries and 12 cities in the Middle East and Africa, four countries and four cities in South America, and six countries and 14 cities in Asia.

Codeshare agreements

In March 2025, Belavia and Nordwind Airlines signed a codeshare agreement to operate connection flights through Kazan Airport and Pulkovo Airport.

Fleet

, Nordwind Airlines operates the following aircraft:

In 2022, Air Lease Corporation were seeking to recover two A321neo and four Boeing 737-800s, as the lease payments were not being made.

The fleet previously included the following aircraft:

• Airbus A320-200
• Boeing 757-200
• Boeing 767-300ER

References

References

1. (5 August 2018). "Russia's Nordwind to lease three B737-800s from CBD". ch-aviation.
2. "Nordwind: Senior Management".
3. [https://www.facebook.com/pg/NordwindAirlinesOfficial/about/ About Nordwind]
4. "Nordwind - Home". Nordwind.
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6. "Nordwind Airlines (ATDB)".
7. [https://nordwindairlines.ru/ru/about-company About Nordwind]
8. "Passenger traffic at Russian airlines".
9. "Missiles Fired At Passenger Jet Over Syria 29 April 2013". Sky News.
10. Montag-Girmes, Polina. (July 14, 2017). "Russia's Nordwind Airlines expands fleet with two A330s". [[Air Transport World]].
11. (2019-06-19). "How 7.4 Tons of Venezuela's Gold Landed in Africa—and Vanished". [[Wall Street Journal]].
12. (7 March 2022). "Nordwind Airlines suspends all international flights".
13. (1 June 2022). "Five Russian airlines have returned leased jets -document".
14. (11 January 2023). "BIS renews temporary denial orders against Pobeda, Nordwind & Siberian Airlines".
15. (28 February 2022). "Updated: All the European countries affected by Ukraine travel bans and sanctions so far". Euronews.
16. "Flights to Cuba launch from Pulkovo". Air Gate of the Northern Capita.
17. (21 October 2025). "Nordwind Airlines opens route between Moscow and Holguín". Periódico ¡ahora!.
18. (27 February 2022). "Ukraine invasion: Russian planes face near-total airspace ban to west". BBC.
19. "Nordwind schedules Hannover service from May 2019".
20. (28 February 2022). "Greece closes its airspace for Russian airlines". Reuters.
21. "Nordwind schedules new Central Asia service in 2Q19".
22. (26 July 2025). "Russia starts first Moscow-Pyongyang passenger flights in decades". Reuters.
23. (28 July 2025). "Russia starts direct flights between Moscow and Pyongyang".
24. (15 September 2025). "Nordwind Airlines Adds Moscow – Pyongyang Business Class Service in Sep 2025". AeroRoutes.
25. (9 October 2025). "Nordwind Airlines Nov/Dec 2025 Moscow – Pyongyang Operations". AeroRoutes.
26. https://www.exyuaviation.com/2021/04/norwind-to-launch-skopje-service.html Norwind to launch Skopje Service/
27. (27 February 2022). "Ukraine travel bans and sanctions: All the countries that have been affected so far". Euronews.
28. (28 March 2025). "Nordwind Airlines Expands A330 Sochi Service in NS25". AeroRoutes.
29. "Аэропорт "Иваново" открывает продажу билетов на новый рейс Иваново – Махачкала!". Аэропорт «Иваново».
30. "Кышын Казаннан Кувейт һәм Кытайга авиарейслар җибәрергә планлаштыралар". Казан шәһәренең җирле үзидарә.
31. (18 March 2024). "Nordwind начнет совершать полеты из Махачкалы в Киров". Travel.ru.
32. (9 October 2025). "Nordwind Airlines Adds Kazan – Krasnodar Service in NW25". AeroRoutes.
33. (11 January 2024). "Прямые рейсы в Сочи из Магнитогорска и Сыктывкара запустят в феврале". Кубань Информ.
34. (9 February 2024). "Дагестан с апреля 2024г увеличит частоту авиарейсов в Санкт-Петербург". РБК.
35. (18 February 2024). "Nordwind начнет летать между Махачкалой и Екатеринбургом". Travel.ru.
36. (3 July 2024). "Авиакомпания, открывшая рейс Нижневартовск – Казань, закрывает его спустя месяц — Сетевое издание Вестник - Новости Сургутского района и Югры". Вестник Сургутского района.
37. "Стартовала продажа билетов на рейсы из аэропорта Оренбурга в Худжанд". Orenburg Airport JSC.
38. (20 February 2024). "Nordwind будет выполнять рейсы между Махачкалой и Самарой". Travel.ru.
39. (19 September 2023). "Авиарейс из Саранска в Махачкалу планируют запустить в мае 2024 года (АвиаПорт)". АвиаПорт.Ru.
40. (29 January 2024). "4 старо-новых прямых рейса в Калининград — из Новосибирска, Кирова, Саратова и Ульяновска {{!}} Vandrouki.ru". vandrouki.ru.
41. Shakhsinova, Sofia. (11 February 2025). "Новый прямой рейс свяжет Сургут и Махачкалу". Сетевое издание «Зори Табасарана».
42. (29 August 2025). "Nordwind Airlines Adds Kazan – Surgut in NW25". AeroRoutes.
43. (24 June 2024). "Выполнявшая рейсы Сыктывкар — Махачкала авиакомпания досрочно завершила летную программу". БНК.
44. [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation]]
45. (29 February 2024). "Для жителей Башкирии возобновят прямые регулярные рейсы из Уфы в Худжанд". Bashinform.
46. (27 October 2025). "Nordwind to launch Tyumen-Khujand and Tyumen-Dushanbe services from Nov-2025". News for Airlines, Airports and the Aviation Industry.
47. (26 November 2025). "Nordwind Airlines to launch Kazan-Istanbul service from Jan-2026". News for Airlines, Airports and the Aviation Industry {{!}} CAPA.
48. "Nordwind launches sales to Sharjah | Nordwind Airlines".
49. (20 September 2021). "El gobierno ruso autoriza más vuelos hacia Venezuela - Aviacionline.com".
50. (25 September 2025). "Nordwind Airlines to resume direct Russia-Cam Ranh flights after five-year hiatus". VOV Voice of Vietnam.
51. (11 March 2025). "Belavia / Nordwind Airlines Begins Codeshare Service From mid-March 2025". AeroRoutes.
52. (September 2025). "Global Airline Guide 2025 - Nordwind Airlines".
53. "Russia's Irkut MC-21-300 Performs First Flight {{!}} AIN".