Skytrain
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| Founded | 31 January 1924 | ||||||
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| Commenced operations | 31 January 1924 | ||||||
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| Focus cities | |||||||
| Frequent-flyer program | Skytrain Miles | ||||||
| Subsidiaries | |||||||
| Fleet size | 316 | ||||||
| Destinations | 93 (Sept. 2018) | ||||||
| Company slogan | Galleons connecting the World (current) | ||||||
| Parent company | Skytrain Group Limited | ||||||
| Headquarters | Ivan Vazov International Airport, Samaryansk, Romellea | ||||||
| Key people |
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| Revenue |  US$ 34.7 billion (Nov. 2018) | ||||||
| Net income | US$ 97.8 million (Nov. 2018) | ||||||
| Employees | 23,700 (2016-2017) | ||||||
| Website | www.skytrain.rf | ||||||
Skytrain (Russian: Скайтрейн) is an airline based in Samaryansk, Romellea. The airline is a subsidiary of The Skytrain Group Limited, which is wholly owned by the government of the Republic of Samaryansk. It is one of the largest airlines in Aeia, and the biggest one in Catai, operating over 1,780 flights per week from its main hub at Ivan Vazov International Airport in Samaryansk, to more than 59 cities in 11 countries across the Aeia. Cargo activities are undertaken by Skytrain Cargo.
Skytrain is the world's first largest airline in scheduled revenue passenger-kilometres flown, the first-largest in Romellea in terms of international passengers carried, and the second-largest in terms of freight tonne-kilometres flown. From March 2016 to February 2017 Skytrain had the longest non-stop commercial flight from the Romellea to Liberimery.
Founded in 1923 as Air Caligo in Samaryansk, the airline was a startup by the businessman and inventor Yuriy Lomonosov. It served the first airline in the Romellenic Empire, carrying mail between Samaryansk and Byalgorod. The company experienced rapid growth in the '20s and the first half of the '30s, opening 12 lines, 4 of which were regular passenger lines. After the events of 1936, the airline was taken under governmental administration. During the Second Old World War, the aircraft operated by the company were taken for military needs, the airline itself ceased all operations. Just after the war, it emerged as Skytrain. In 1949 it received the first party of 36 aircraft and opened 20 national and 5 international lines, eventually becoming the country's flag carrier. It grew with an average temp during the second half of the 20th century. In 1994, it's CEO, supported by the Federal Assembly, launched a huge program of renovation of the fleet. The result was the order of 93 of the then-new C878 wide-body airliners, an enormous number. The company grew rapidly in the following 5 years, eventually opening routes to every country in the world.
Skytrain operates a mix of wide- and medium-body airliners, all of which are domestically produced by FISAR aircraft consortium. The main type in the fleet is the C818, numbering 135 aircraft. Skytrain focuses mainly on intercontinental routes but also operates numerous lines in the Old World. Domestic flights are carried by its subsidiary, the Skytrain Express.
History
The airline was founded in Samaryansk in 1924, as Air Azur by Yuriy Lomonosov. The ambitious inventor planned to create a developed network of air mail lines throughout the country. He purchased his first aircraft in January 1924, and on 31st of January, the airline commenced operations. In August 1925, the airline held its first passenger flight, from Samaryansk to Primorno with two passengers onboard. After two months a daily line between Samaryansk and Balchik was established. Until 1936, the company established 12 lines. The passenger lines were Samaryansk-Sinemoretz, Samaryansk-Byalgorod, Samaryansk-Balchik, and Sinemoretz-Balchik. The airline was the biggest in the country prior to the establishment of the Federation in 1936, thus was targeted by the government as a strategic company. On 27th of December 1936, the airline was transferred to governmental property, with Lomonosov leaving it for good. After the declaration of war, Air Azur effectively ceased all operations.
After the war, the company was resurrected by the Assembly. It was rebranded to Skytrain and became the official flag carrier of the country in 1949. Several military transport aircraft were remade into civil ones and handed to the airline in 1949. From 1951 onwards FISAR began supplying new models of passenger aircraft. Due to its national status, Skytrain often received the most advanced aircraft the aviation industry could erect, including the first passenger jet airliner FISAR C.112 in 1954. In the '50s the airline opened its first transcontinental route: Samaryansk-Königsreh. In the following decade, the company focused on upgrading the domestic infrastructure to handle the heavier second-generation jet aircraft. The '70s saw the birth of the Galleon image of the airline. Receiving the first long-haul aircraft, Skytrain became a world leader in intercontinental flights. In 1994, a huge upgrade program was launched by the CEO of the airline, newly hired Vyacheslav Lyudmilov. 93 C878s were ordered in 1994, followed by 3 more orders of medium-range aircraft to replace the ageing fleet of mostly-foreign aircraft. Skytrain entered the third millennium as the biggest airline in the world and keeps this title until today.
Fleet
The current fleet of Skytrain consists of a mix of narrow- and wide-body airliners. Mid-range jet aircraft fleet is composed only of C717 aircraft of different modifications, some of which are nearly 40 years old. Skytrain has planned a huge fleet upgrade to be done in the 2020s, with 111 aircraft ordered. The last C717 is planned to be delivered in 2029.
The long-haul park is composed of C818 and C878 aircraft, the first forming the backbone of the transcontinental lines of the airline. In 2016 Skytrain announced the purchase of 98 new C878-300ER, 48 878-9 and 30 818-10 aircraft, placing the biggest one-time order in civil aviation history.
| Name | In service | Orders | F | B | E+ | E | Dates operated |
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| Mid-range jetliners | |||||||
| C717-200 | 7 | 8 | 96 | 1981 - present | |||
| C717-300 | 18 | 8 | 104 | 1986 - present | |||
| C717-400 | 11 | 8 | 116 | 1991 - present | |||
| C717-7 | 32 | 14 | 12 | 110 | 2001 - present | ||
| C717-8 | 25 | 33 | 16 | 118 | 2006 - present | ||
| C717-9 | 12 | 64 | 16 | 127 | 2008 - present | ||
| Long-range jetliners | |||||||
| C818-200LR | 16 | 24 | 156 | 2001 - present | |||
| C818-300 | 63 | 34 | 70 | 123 | 1994 - present | ||
| C818-300ER | 34 | 51 | 34 | 70 | 123 | 1998 - present | |
| C818-400ER | 22 | 16 | 8 | 34 | 70 | 160 | 2003 - present |
| C878-300 | 10 | 5 | 11 | 66 | 90 | 198 | 1997 - present |
| C878-300ER | 66 | 98 | 24 | 72 | 90 | 208 | 2012 - present |
| C878-9 | 48 | 24 | 72 | 90 | 208 | After 2020 (awaiting deliveries) | |
| C878-10 | 30 | 24 | 96 | 90 | 240 | After 2020 (awaiting deliveries) | |
| Total | 316 | 359 | |||||
Galleon traditions
Since 1977 Skytrain gives a name to every aircraft it possesses. The name consists of Galleon and a saint or region name. It is written in the airline's purple colour on the nose of the aircraft. When an aircraft is decommissioned, its name is freed up and can be used by active fleet members.
Destinations
| Hub |
| Focus city |
| Seasonal service |
Services
Catering
Catering on Skytrain flights from is provided by Degusto Flight Catering which operates one of the largest airline catering facilities in the world. Skytrain also offers special meal options, in all classes, based on age, dietary restrictions, preference and religious observance. Special meals must be ordered in advance, at least 24 hours before the flight departure time. Salad meals, however, do not need to be booked as they are part of the normal meal. The airline can arrange special dinings for Imperial class passengers, including 6 meals and a dessert. The additional payment is 890$.
Cabins
Skytrain Imperial Class
There are two types of first-class seating; one is a fully enclosed suite with a ceiling to floor door with doors that close but don’t extend to the ceiling, the other being unenclosed suite. Both suites come complete with a mini-bar, a coat rack and storage. They also feature the Skytrain ES system on a 23-inch-wide (58 cm) LCD screen in the open suites and a 32-inch-wide (81 cm) on the fully enclosed suite. The seat converts into a 2-metre-long (79 in) fully flat bed. Private suites are available on 3-class C818-400ER and C878-300. The fully enclosed suites are available on its newly delivered C878-300ER aircraft exclusively.
On its newly delivered FISAR C878-300ER, First class features private suites, two shower-equipped lavatories and spa, and access to the first/business class bar area and lounge. Premium class seating is located in the front of the aircraft.
Skytrain introduced this new Imperial Class cabin for the fleet on 12 November 2017 and the first flight to Aleia and Midrasia on 1 December 2017. The new First Class cabin is configured with eight suites on a 1-2-1 layout. The middle suites come with virtual windows that project a live feed from the outside of the aircraft on real time. Both the middle suites are equipped with 3 virtual windows which are high definition LCD screens which relay real-time image using the HD cameras on either side of the aircraft.
Amenities include 2 minibars placed on either side of the entertainment screen, a 13inch tablet with a front camera to communicate with the cabin crew and to order room service. A panel to control the lighting and temperature inside the suite. Skytrain has also introduced a new seat, which features a new zero-gravity position. The suites are expected to resemble "a private bedroom on a luxury yacht".
Skytrain Explorer Business Class
Business class on FISAR 818-200LRs, 818-300s, 818-300ERs and 878-300s feature seats with a 1.5-metre-long (60 in) pitch that recline to 2-metre-long (79 in), angled lie-flat beds. Amenities include massage function, privacy partition, winged headrest with six-way movement, two individual reading lights and an overhead light per seat, in-seat power supply, USB Ports and an RCA socket for laptop connection, over 600 channels of entertainment on ES, shown on a 17 in-wide (43 cm) TV screen.
On FISAR C818-400ERs and C878-300ERs aircraft, the seats recline to form a fully flat bed and are equipped with personal mini-bars. Due to the unique staggered layout, half of the business class seats on Skytrain liners are 23 cm (9 in) shorter than the others, at only 1.8 m (70 in) long. Business class passengers also have access to an onboard bar at the front of the aircraft.
Skytrain Economy Class
Skytrain Economy class offers a 79–81-centimetre-long (31–32 in) seat pitch on 818 series aircraft and 86 cm (34 in) on 878 series aircraft and standard seat width (except on the C878-300ER). Skytrain has ten seats per row on its C878 fleet. The seat features adjustable headrests, a 3000 channel SE In-Flight-Entertainment and in-seat laptop power-outlets on newer aircraft and laptop recharging facilities in galleys in older aircraft. There is additional recline on C878-300ER economy class seats.
In-flight Entertainment System
ES is the in-flight entertainment system operated by Skytrain.
Introduced in 2003, ES is available on all new aircraft and now features 4,000 channels (on most flights) to all passengers. ES is found on the airline’s C818 and C878 series.
In July 2007, Skytrain introduced FES Digital Widescreen, an updated version of ES. It offered over 1200 channels of pre-selected entertainment available to all passengers. FES Digital Widescreen is available on all new aircraft.
In 2017 Skytrain upgraded its ES - inflight entertaining system to the new SkytrainExperience system which includes new upgrades that improved passenger experience, such as Handset with more controls, larger screens, new sockets, some 3,500 channels of movies, TV shows, music and games, on demand and in multiple languages, new ES features, such as a Naviapp, Bluetooth audio and personal video playback. These were be fitted in existing C818 and C878 as well as installed on new aircraft that will be delivered to the airline.
Lounges
Skytrain operates three types of lounges within its destination network: Imperial lounge, Explorer, and Welcome Lounges. Each departure lounge is accessible both through travel class or Miles status; the Welcome Lounge is limited to arriving premium passengers of the Skytrain Business only.
Skytrain also operates a dedicated first class terminal at Ivan Vazov International Airport. The first terminal of its kind, access is limited only to departing Skytrain Imperial Class. Approximately 200 staff care for approximately 300 passengers per day in the terminal, which features a full-service restaurant, full bar, cigar lounge, relaxation rooms, and offices, as well as bath facilities.
Hotels
Skytrain established its own hotel chain in 1999. Continental hotels are built in numerous major airports, both throughout Romellea and in other international airports. Skytrain ensures rooms for transfer passengers from Explorer Class and Presidental rooms for transferring Imperial Class passengers. In case of a cancelled flight, all passengers get rooms in Continental hotels if they're present on the airport until a new flight is arranged.
Limousines
Complimentary chauffeur-driven airport transfers are available to Business and First Class passengers in over 14 cities.
It was known that Skytrain used Brewerr B70 wagons for Explorer Class passengers and Andcar M-Class cars for Imperial Class passengers in Samaryansk, however, as of March 2017, Skytrain has upgraded its fleet of cars for Business Class passengers to brand new Gladiator 5 Series touring cars.
The type of vehicle varies depending on the location and service provider that the airline has signed a contract within that area.
Programs
Skytrain Miles Program
Skytrain's frequent-flyer programme is called Miles and is shared among several airlines, including all of Skytrain's subsidiary airlines, plus Azurair, Eagle Air (owned by Skytrain), Aleiair and Star Airways. Miles members may earn miles on Skytrain flights and partner flights, as well as through Skytrain credit cards, and purchases made through the Skytrain shops. Status within Miles is determined by miles flown during one calendar year with specific partners. Membership levels include: Miles member (no minimal threshold), Adventurer (Silver, 35,000-mile (56,000 km) threshold or 30 individual flights), Explorer (Gold, 100,000-mile (160,000 km) threshold), and Imperial Circle (Black, 600,000-mile (970,000 km) threshold over two calendar years). All Miles status levels higher than Miles member offer lounge access and executive bonus miles, with the higher levels offering more exclusive benefits.
Skytrain Business
Skytrain has exclusive offers to business passengers. Those include upgraded Miles program with a higher range of products. Skytrain can arrange business jet flights for its business customers. Also, it can book hotels in other countries for the business passengers to stay in while abroad. If needed, Skytrain can also provide personal experienced drivers in some cities. The Business program is being developed and already has contracts with numerous corporations.
Skytrain has created a huge network of connection with other airlines of the Old World, creating a highly-developed infrastructure. Business passengers can use it to ease their transfer and reduce the time needed to travel from point A to B. Skytrain Business ensures the fastest check-in for frequent-flyers. The airline also offers quick transfer to the Romellenic Rail Services. Both companies have signed codeshare agreement, and tickets for both services can be booked on Skytrain's website. For business passengers, the company assures transportation between airports and railway stations inside Romellea.
Divisions
Skytrain Express
Skytrain Express is the domestic carrier subsidiary of Skytrain Airways. It serves all the routes inside the Romellenic Federation. The airline is also used to transport passengers between different domestic airports for their transfer flights. Skytrain Express operates mainly small regional aircraft but also has several C717 aircraft in its park.
Skytrain Cargo
Skytrain Cargo is the air freight division of Skytrain. It began operations in October 1985 and launched its own aircraft services in 2001 with a FISAR 878F Freighter. It serves 10 exclusive cargo destinations, besides others in common with the Skytrain passenger network.
Gallery
Skytrain Imperial Class onboard C818-400 in Samaryansk, 23.03.2015
Bar onboard FISAR C878-300ER.
Skytrain Explorer Class, FISAR C818-200.
Economy class cabin of a C818-300ER aircraft.
C818-400ER in Skytrain livery
Concept economy class cabin of a C878-9. 48 aircraft were ordered by Skytrain
The new Explorer cabin concept. Planned to be introduced in 2020 on the new generation C878 liners
Domestic Explorer Lounge, Ivan Vazov International.
See also
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