Yakutia Airlines: The Superjets Linking the Russian Far East from Yakutsk

The fleet

The fleet combines Boeing 737-700 and 737-800 aircraft for the main routes, De Havilland DHC-8-300 turboprops for regional links with lower demand, and next-generation Sukhoi Superjet 100-95LR jets, in a configuration designed for the extended range that the long Siberian distances require. The airline also has another ten Superjets and five Yakovlev MC-21-300 aircraft on order, a sign of a fleet renewal strategy that looks to Russian aircraft production rather than to new Western purchases.

Routes and network

Besides the domestic links radiating from Yakutsk to the smaller centers of Sakha, the airline has expanded its international network toward China in recent years: in the third quarter of 2025, for example, it introduced a seasonal weekly Vladivostok-Yantai service with its Superjets. It is a sign of Yakutia Airlines' gradual opening toward neighboring Asian markets, which are geographically easier to reach than Europe.

What passengers say

The ratings available on Russian portals describe Yakutia Airlines as an essential carrier rather than an aspirational one: appreciated for its ability to reach places that would otherwise be isolated, but with onboard service standards that remain those of a regional carrier on a geographically extreme network. There is no base of international reviews comparable to that of the major carriers.

Yakutia Airlines is the almost obligatory choice for anyone who needs to reach places in Sakha or the Russian Far East that have no alternative connections, while it is not designed for those seeking a travel experience comparable to that of a major international carrier. On domestic routes flown with DHC-8 turboprops, it is wise to allow wider time margins between connections, since Siberian weather affects punctuality more often than in other Russian regions.