MOSCOW/VNUKOVO-BASED Red Wings is to acquire three former Aeroflot Ilyushin Il-96 widebody jets as part of a government initiative to increase capacity on services to disputed Simferopol. It follows the recent grounding of Aeroflot subsidiary Dobrolet, which was the sole provider of flights between Moscow and the newly annexed Crimean peninsula (see related story).
In order to circumvent EU and US sanctions, Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade will equip Red Wings with a host of domestically-produced aircraft, including Il-96s, Tupolev Tu-204s and Sukhoi Superjet 100s. The carrier will also establish a permanent operating base in the former Ukrainian city while the government is expected to recapitalise the airline before acquiring a controlling stake.
(Photo Airteamimages.com/TT)