| The 30`s saw active airport development and
construction for domestic and Soviet republics throughout the country. The first airfield
and airspace development of the Primorye region began in 1931.
In the summer of 1932, the first solo flights with commercial purposes were conducted.
Construction also began on a hydro-airport at Vladivostok`s Second River region, and
another airport named Key Lakes outside of Vladivostok in Artyom. On August 27th, 1932,
ahydroplane completed the first technical flight; and on September 2nd of the same year,
the plane delivered four passengers from Khabarovsk to Second River. That day now marks
the official beginning of Vladivostok`s aviation enterprise.
From that day on, passenger flights between Khabarovsk and Vladivostok became a regular
occurrence. In 1934, the Second River airport was moved to a dry location and became the
basis for the U-2 planes and from where regular flights were made. There were also new
airports opened in Iman and Ozernye Klyuchi; a sanitary aviation created; and new planes
and services tested.
During the war, the Po-2 plane carried supplies of lead-tin concentrates needed on the
wars fronts, and towards the end of the war, ammunition to the front lines. In July
of 1941 a fleet of U-2, P-5, and Sh-2 planes were transferred to Ozernye Klyuchi, opening
a new era of development in the history of Primorye civil aviation.
In the ten year period following the war, Po-2 and Sh-2 planes were used for a wide
range of chemical, nautical, geological, and forest applications. Airfields in Primorye
continued to develop rapidly, serving as the basis for the construction of airports in the
60`s and 80`s. Passenger flights from Vladivostok to Moscow began in 1948 on Il-12 planes.
In 1953, the An-2 plane became known as a kind of educational plane for Vladivostok
aviators that allowed pilots to amass experience in a number of different flight-related
activities and carry several thousand passengers during this period. Taking over the
workload of the Po-2, the Annushka became a nearly irreplaceable craft for
communal farm`s aviation-related agricultural needs. During these years, Primorye aviators
also began mastering helicopter flight. This began with the Mi-4 model which dutifully
toiled away for 30 some odd-years and was succeeded later by the Mi-1, KA-15, Mi-8, Ka-26,
Ka-32, and Mi-171.
1956, the beginning of Primorye`s passenger jet engine era was symbolized by the
introduction of the Tu-104 plane. In May of 1958, the Tu-114D completed the first trial
non-stop flight from Moscow to Vladivostok while In August of the same year the
Vladivostok aviation industry began basic use of the Li-2 plane which continued to operate
regular passenger flights from Ozernye Klyuchi to Khabarovsk for the next 15 years.
By that time the Ozernye Klyuchi airport had exhausted its limits for expansion as
required by the larger jet engine planes. From 1959 to 1964 a complex of ground facilities
were erected to allow regular flights for Tu-104`s (1958), Il-18`s (1963) and AN-10`s
(1964) thereby sharply increasing passenger volumes. In February of 1961, the first brick
terminal was built facilitating the processing of up to 200 passengers. This marked the
beginning of the big airport known as Vladivostok.
In the 60`s and 80`s, pilots from Vladivostok`s aviation trade became pioneers in
servicing the region`s whaling and fishing fleets. On August 30th, 1961, Primorye pilots
were first in the Far East to begin fishing industry operations with Mi-1 helicopters.
Helicopters of the Vladivostok enterprise served both as cranes and ambulatories.
The emergence of small jet Yak-40 planes and Mi-8 helicopters helped facilitate
transport as well as meet the economic demands of industries. In 1973, the aviation
enterprise started construction of a new terminal which began operating at the end of
1976. The Vladivostok airport began regular service of Tu-154`s. This period also
witnessed a more dynamic development of the industry`s fleet as new squadrons of Yak-40`s
and Mi-8`s were created. The completion of a second runway in June of 1985 opened up the
airport for all modern aircraft and provided for the non-stop air service between Moscow
and Vladivostok onboard Il-62 planes.
In 1990, having signed an agreement in Papua New Guinea for the use of Ka-32
helicopters, the aviation enterprise entered the international arena. In 1992, Vladivostok
became an international airport. That same year, the company bought two Il-76 planes and
began basic service on Il-76 Tu-154 aircrafts.
Since 1994, we have been an openly traded stock company, Vladivostok Air,
whose holdings include an airline and airport. In 1995, the first modern long-distance
Tu-154M airplane was purchased. On March 4th, 1999, the renovated international terminal
was put into operation.
In 2005 Vladivostok Air was the first in the world to start operation of new long haul
aircrafts Tu-204-300.
In December 2006 large scale reconstruction of domestic terminal was completed in
Vladivostok Airport.
On February 5, 2007 Vladivostok Air air fleet obtained the first foreign made aircraft
in the Far East Airbus A-320.
On January 25, 2008 Vladivostok Air met two more Airbus A-320 aircrafts painted with
company colors. Now company's fleet possesses three Airbus A-320 aircrafts. |