Dobrolet

Dobrolet was a Russian low-cost airline brand created by Aeroflot in 2014 as part of an effort to expand budget travel within Russia. The plan envisioned a stand-alone subsidiary operating within the domestic market, using Airbus A320-family aircraft in a no-frills model and offering lower fares than the main Aeroflot network.

Operations began with limited flights from Moscow to several domestic destinations, designed to compete with existing low-cost carriers and broaden access to air travel within Russia. The venture was positioned as a stepping stone for expanding the Russian domestic aviation market through a budget-focused model.

However, amid international sanctions related to the Crimea crisis and subsequent restrictions affecting aircraft leasing for Russian carriers, Dobrolet suspended all services in August 2014 and ultimately did not resume operations. The brand was dissolved, and its assets and experience contributed to the development of Aeroflot’s current low-cost carrier, Pobeda, which was established to operate budget services in Russia.

Fleet and route details were limited due to the short lifespan of the venture; Dobrolet did not develop a long-term fleet or international network and did not carry out extended operations. In retrospect, Dobrolet is described as a transitional step in Aeroflot’s broader strategy to introduce low-cost travel in the Russian market, paving the way for Pobeda.