The Government of Buryatia, in south-central Siberia, has agreed to support the development of a regional airline by purchasing an aircraft for local carrier Baikal Aviation Company, also known as Baikalaviakom (Ulan-Ude). The airline has submitted documents to Russia's civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, to enable it to carry out commercial air transportation.
In a statement issued this week, the Republic of Buryatia has agreed to purchase a Yak-40 from its budget to be leased to Baikalaviakom for a period of five years. The carrier will lease an additional two aircraft.
Baikalaviakom is expected to cover routes left vacant following the closure of Buryat Airlines (Ulan-Ude) earlier this year.
Ulan-Ude, in the Republic's capital, is currently served by S7 Airlines, Ural Airlines, IrAero, Saratov Airlines, Hunnu Air, and Yakutia Airlines, providing connections to destinations throughout Russia, as well as Beijing Capital, China and Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
According to its website, Baikalaviakom currently provides charter and forestry services using twelve An-2 aircraft and one P2006T.
