Nordwind Airlines
Airline Statistics
153
Active Routes1308
Flight Observations39
Unique Destinations41
Origin Airports1569
Avg Route Distance (mi)7667
Longest Route (mi)0
Domestic Routes100
International RoutesAbout Nordwind Airlines
Nordwind Airlines (ICAO: NWS) is a Russian leisure airline primarily operating scheduled and charter flights to various holiday destinations.
Nordwind Airlines was established in August 2008 by the Russian and Turkish divisions of the tour operator Pegas Touristik, commencing operations with three Boeing 757-200 aircraft. The airline experienced rapid growth in its initial years, expanding its fleet and route network significantly.
The airline is headquartered in Moscow, Russia, and its main operational base and hub is at Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO). Nordwind Airlines primarily focuses on connecting airports within Russia with popular holiday destinations across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Caribbean. While it previously served a wider international network, its routes have been impacted by geopolitical events and sanctions. As of November 2025, Nordwind Airlines serves 33 domestic and 9 international destinations in 5 countries.
Nordwind Airlines operates a diverse fleet that, as of November 2025, includes aircraft such as the Airbus A320-200, A321, A321neo, A330-200, A330-300, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 777-200ER, and Boeing 777-300ER. The airline offers two main cabin classes: Economy Class and Business Class. The Business Class service provides amenities such as priority check-in and boarding, in-flight meals with a selection of beverages, amenity kits, pillows, blankets, and newspapers. Nordwind Airlines is not a member of major airline alliances like Star Alliance, SkyTeam, or Oneworld, but it has engaged in codeshare agreements, including one with Belavia.
Traveler Reviews
Traveler reviews for Nordwind Airlines present a mixed, often critical, picture.
What Travelers Love:
- Punctuality: Some passengers have noted the airline's ability to maintain on-time departures and arrivals, which is appreciated by those with tight schedules.
- Professional Crew: There are instances where travelers have praised the professionalism of the pilots and the politeness of the cabin crew.
- Clean Aircraft: Certain reviews highlight that the aircraft were clean and well-maintained internally.
- Affordable Fares: For budget-conscious travelers simply seeking transportation from one point to another, Nordwind Airlines is sometimes considered an acceptable option due to its cheap airfares.
Common Complaints:
- Poor On-Board Service: A frequent complaint is the minimal on-board service, often described as basic and comparable to a bus. Attendants are sometimes perceived as unsmiling or uncaring, and complimentary food is typically not provided, with only water offered on many flights.
- Hidden Costs & Baggage Issues: Passengers often report low baggage allowances and face attempts to charge significant fees for excess baggage. There have been issues where online baggage payments were not recognized at check-in, leading to repeated and higher charges.
- Unfriendly Ground Staff: Some travelers have encountered unfriendly check-in agents who seem primarily focused on levying additional fees.
- Limited Seat Pitch: The Economy Class is frequently criticized for having a small seat pitch, which can be uncomfortable, especially on longer flights.
- Delays: Flight delays are a recurring issue mentioned in traveler feedback.
- Aircraft Condition: Some reviews have described aircraft as old, dirty, and dusty.
Overall sentiment suggests that Nordwind Airlines is viewed as a budget carrier where affordability often comes at the expense of service quality and passenger comfort. While some appreciate its punctuality and basic transport, many express frustration over hidden fees, inadequate on-board amenities, and inconsistent staff attitudes.
Safety Information
Nordwind Airlines' safety record includes notable incidents and regulatory challenges.
In April 2013, a Nordwind Airlines jet flying from Sharm El Sheikh to Kazan over Syria was targeted by two surface-to-air missiles. The pilots successfully took evasive action, and the aircraft landed undamaged. More recent incidents reported by AeroInside include an Airbus A321 experiencing hydraulic failure in August 2021, another A321 having a nose gear malfunction in May 2021, and an unlawful interference indication near Rostov in May 2021. Additionally, an Airbus A330-200 had an engine shut down in flight near Moscow in November 2021. A particularly serious incident involved a hard landing of an A321 at Antalya in January 2020, which reportedly caused the nose gear to break through the cabin floor. Following this, allegations were made that the Cockpit Voice Recorder was removed, installed on another plane, overwritten, and then returned to the accident aircraft.
A significant regulatory action against the airline occurred in April 2022, when Nordwind Airlines was placed on the EU Air Safety List, effectively banning it from operating in the European Union. This decision stemmed from concerns that the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency permitted Russian airlines to operate foreign-registered aircraft without valid airworthiness certificates.
Regarding its fleet, the average age of Nordwind Airlines' aircraft was 16.0 years as of June 6, 2025, an increase from 15.1 years in 2024. Furthermore, sanctions imposed following the Russian invasion of Ukraine have restricted Nordwind Airlines from acquiring spare parts for its aircraft.
Based on the available data, Nordwind Airlines has experienced several safety-related incidents, including a serious hard landing and technical malfunctions. The airline's inclusion on the EU Air Safety List due to airworthiness concerns and the impact of sanctions on its ability to obtain spare parts raise significant questions about its overall safety assessment. No public safety awards or recognitions were found.
Route Network Map
Most Popular Routes
Top Destinations
Top Origin Airports
Top Border Crossing Flights
Longest Routes
All Routes
153 Total Routes| Route | Destination | Flights | Distance | Aircraft | Last Seen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UFA → LED |
Pulkovo
Saint Petersburg
|
85 | 1019 mi | B738 | Jan 29, 2026 |
| REN → SVO |
Sheremetyevo Int'l
Moscow
|
70 | 787 mi | A321 | Jan 28, 2026 |
| OMS → LED |
Pulkovo
Saint Petersburg
|
50 | 1609 mi | B738 | Jan 29, 2026 |
| KGD → LED |
Pulkovo
Saint Petersburg
|
50 | 495 mi | A321 | Jan 28, 2026 |
| GOJ → AER | Adler-Sochi Int'l | 31 | 900 mi | B738 | Jan 28, 2026 |
| UFA → AER | Adler-Sochi Int'l | 30 | 1050 mi | B738 | Jan 24, 2026 |
| BAX → LED |
Pulkovo
Saint Petersburg
|
29 | 2019 mi | B738 | Jan 28, 2026 |
| MCX → KZN |
Kazan
Kazan
|
28 | 888 mi | A321 | Jan 19, 2026 |
| REN → LED |
Pulkovo
Saint Petersburg
|
28 | 1115 mi | B738 | Jan 12, 2026 |
| UFA → MCX |
Uytash
Makhachkala
|
28 | 893 mi | B738 | Jan 9, 2026 |
| MCX → UFA |
Ufa Int'l
Ufa
|
27 | 893 mi | B738 | Dec 26, 2025 |
| OMS → AER | Adler-Sochi Int'l | 27 | 1683 mi | B738 | Jan 26, 2026 |
| VRA → SVO |
Sheremetyevo Int'l
Moscow
|
27 | 5924 mi | B77W | Jan 28, 2026 |
| KUF → KGD |
Khrabrovo
Kaliningrad
|
25 | 1191 mi | A321 | Jan 29, 2026 |
| TOF → LED |
Pulkovo
Saint Petersburg
|
25 | 1964 mi | B738 | Jan 18, 2026 |
| SVO → KZN |
Kazan
Kazan
|
24 | 461 mi | B738 | Jan 2, 2026 |
| TJM → LED |
Pulkovo
Saint Petersburg
|
24 | 1265 mi | B738 | Jan 28, 2026 |
| MCX → LED |
Pulkovo
Saint Petersburg
|
24 | 1385 mi | B738 | Jan 10, 2026 |
| KJA → AER | Adler-Sochi Int'l | 19 | 2435 mi | B738 | Jan 30, 2026 |
| REN → AER | Adler-Sochi Int'l | 17 | 922 mi | B738 | Jan 28, 2026 |
| TOF → AER | Adler-Sochi Int'l | 17 | 2156 mi | B738 | Jan 23, 2026 |
| GOJ → KGD |
Khrabrovo
Kaliningrad
|
17 | 908 mi | A321 | Jan 12, 2026 |
| GOJ → MRV |
Mineralnye Vody
Mineralnye Vody
|
17 | 831 mi | B738 | Jan 22, 2026 |
| BAX → KZN |
Kazan
Kazan
|
16 | 1371 mi | B738 | Jan 25, 2026 |
| PEE → KGD |
Khrabrovo
Kaliningrad
|
15 | 1356 mi | B738 | Jan 19, 2026 |
Airline statistics are based on flight route observations collected from FlightAware AeroAPI and other sources. Flight counts represent observed operations, not scheduled frequencies. Route data is continuously updated as new flight information becomes available.
Last Update: Jan 30, 2026 03:05
Coverage: Observed routes only