His height of 215 cm - or 7ft - was too much for low cost airline Pobeda flying from Novy Urengoy to Moscow.

Now the Far East of Russia linked to beaches and cities in the sun with direct routes from Vladivostok on low-cost airline Vietjet.

Plane schedules disrupted, residents warned to stay indoors, sailors had to use GPS to get back to land because of thick smoke fumes from raging forest fires.

Russian Investigative Committee supervise sad final journey for Vlada Dzyuba, 14, who died suddenly in China on three month catwalk assignment.

Carrier which is vital to Siberian towns and cities faces bankruptcy lawsuit as debt claims mount.

Last minute rescue bid to prevent Russia's second largest airline going bankrupt.

Ransom demanded for two UTair staff seized in ambush on UN contract work.

Flights relaunched to and from Europe stopping over at Tolmachevo Airport, the largest Russian air hub east of the Urals.

Siberian Natalia Fileva, 55, co-owner of S7 airline, perished alongside her father in private plane tragedy in Germany.