Aurora (HZ, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk) will commence scheduled DHC-6-400 operations to Kavalerovo and Plastun later this month having successfully completed type certification with Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsiya, last month.

The Russian Far East carrier plans to use its three Twin Otters on flights connecting rural Primorsky Krai with its administrative hub, Vladivostok. In order to ensure the flights are accessible, Russia is considering increasing route subsidies from RUB80million (USD1.47million) to RUB345million (USD6.35million).

A maiden trio of DHC-8-400s from Bombardier Aerospace (BBA, Montréal Trudeau) is also schedueld for delivery during the first half of 2015.