Russia’s UTair Airlines plans to begin offshore services in India by year-end, as part of a contract with Gazprom subsidiary Zarubezhneftegaz. A spokesman for the airline said that over-water flights would be a new departure for the company. “The contract is part of a program to develop our business outside Russia.”

A UTair subsidiary set up to provide services in Central Asia will maintain and repair equipment aboard the Mil Mi-8s. UTair is one of the largest domestic airlines in Russia and, with nearly 200 helicopters on its books, one of the four largest operators in the world.