Russian authorities approve ATR 42/72s for non-tarmac runways

Russia’s Interstate Aviation Committee has granted approval for ATR 42/72 aircraft to operate at the 38% of Russian airports that do not have tarmac runways. This opens a whole new route network for the ATR brand and will benefit the likes of UTair no end in the lead-up to the winter Olympics in 2014. It might also lead to a Kuban Airlines ATR order this year.