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 for Nordwind Airlines present a mixed, often critical, picture.
What Travelers Love:
Common Complaints:
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.
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 | Destination | Flights | Distance | Aircraft | Last Seen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UFA → LED |
Pulkovo
Saint Petersburg
|
65 | 1019 mi | B738 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| REN → SVO |
Sheremetyevo Int'l
Moscow
|
53 | 787 mi | B738 | Dec 6, 2025 |
| KGD → LED |
Pulkovo
Saint Petersburg
|
38 | 495 mi | B738 | Dec 7, 2025 |
| OMS → LED |
Pulkovo
Saint Petersburg
|
37 | 1609 mi | B738 | Dec 11, 2025 |
| UFA → AER | Adler-Sochi Int'l | 27 | 1050 mi | B738 | Dec 7, 2025 |
| UFA → MCX |
Uytash
Makhachkala
|
26 | 893 mi | B738 | Nov 24, 2025 |
| MCX → UFA |
Ufa Int'l
Ufa
|
25 | 893 mi | B738 | Dec 5, 2025 |
| MCX → KZN |
Kazan
Kazan
|
25 | 888 mi | A321 | Dec 8, 2025 |
| BAX → LED |
Pulkovo
Saint Petersburg
|
24 | 2019 mi | B738 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| GOJ → AER | Adler-Sochi Int'l | 24 | 900 mi | B738 | Dec 8, 2025 |
| SVO → KZN |
Kazan
Kazan
|
22 | 461 mi | B738 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| TOF → LED |
Pulkovo
Saint Petersburg
|
21 | 1964 mi | A321 | Nov 12, 2025 |
| KUF → KGD |
Khrabrovo
Kaliningrad
|
21 | 1191 mi | A321 | Dec 11, 2025 |
| REN → LED |
Pulkovo
Saint Petersburg
|
21 | 1115 mi | A321 | Nov 2, 2025 |
| OMS → AER | Adler-Sochi Int'l | 20 | 1683 mi | B738 | Dec 8, 2025 |
| MCX → LED |
Pulkovo
Saint Petersburg
|
20 | 1385 mi | B738 | Oct 25, 2025 |
| VRA → SVO |
Sheremetyevo Int'l
Moscow
|
17 | 5924 mi | B77W | Dec 6, 2025 |
| TJM → LED |
Pulkovo
Saint Petersburg
|
16 | 1265 mi | B738 | Dec 11, 2025 |
| KJA → AER | Adler-Sochi Int'l | 16 | 2435 mi | B738 | Dec 7, 2025 |
| PEE → KGD |
Khrabrovo
Kaliningrad
|
14 | 1356 mi | A321 | Oct 23, 2025 |
| TOF → AER | Adler-Sochi Int'l | 14 | 2156 mi | B738 | Nov 28, 2025 |
| REN → KGD |
Khrabrovo
Kaliningrad
|
14 | 1440 mi | A321 | Oct 19, 2025 |
| KZN → LED |
Pulkovo
Saint Petersburg
|
14 | 757 mi | B738 | Jul 26, 2025 |
| GOJ → MRV |
Mineralnye Vody
Mineralnye Vody
|
14 | 831 mi | A321 | Nov 27, 2025 |
| GOJ → KGD |
Khrabrovo
Kaliningrad
|
14 | 908 mi | A321 | Dec 8, 2025 |
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.