Prospects for Creating a Regional Budget Airline in the Republic of Crimea

Abstract

The 2020 crisis caused by the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic had a positive influence on the development of regional air travel. Against the background of an overall drop in passenger traffic exceeding 40%, a number of airports in the Southern Federal District have demonstrated positive development dynamics. With the opening of regular flights to cities in the Southern Federal District and the Republic of Crimea, a number of airports in the Central Federal District and the Volga Federal District by the end of 2020 increased passenger traffic due to the development of the domestic route network. The Russian air passenger market demonstrated high growth and development rates during the period of 2009–2019. The underlying factors of growth and development were the implementation of the subsidizing regional air routes program, the development of competition and the increase in the growth rate of production of the regional jet “SSJ-100”. According to the results of activities at the end of 2020, the Russian regional airline (a mono-operator of the “SSJ-100” jet) demonstrated the lowest rate of passenger traffic reduction. The airline also increased its aircraft fleet by 2 units and expanded its regional route network. The Republic of Crimea is a strategically important region of the Russian Federation. Modernization of the regional logistics complex, which includes the development of regular flights to the regions of the Russian Federation, is a priority task of domestic policy. Based on the structural analysis of the air passenger market and the regional logistics system, a model for creating a regional budget airline for the Republic of Crimea is proposed. The result of overcoming the 2008 crisis on the European air passenger market was the strengthening of the role and influence of the budget airlines (increase in market share from 15% to 50% from 2009 to 2019). The low-cost air transportation segment of the Russian market demonstrates high potential for development due to growing demand. The development of regional air transportation is one of the key factors in the development of the national aircraft construction system. The results of the study can be used in developing a strategy for the aviation logistics system of the Republic of Crimea, as well as in developing strategies for the development of regional airports on the island and peninsular territories.