UTair introduces a new livery

UTair (Russia) has updated it's livery, first seen on 737-800 VQ-BQQ, following repainting at Ostrava.

Originally a regional division of the Soviet era Aeroflot, the airline adopted it's current name and commenced operations in 1991. The airline currently operates an all Boeing jet fleet, plus ATR turboprops from Surgut and Moscow (Vnukovo).

Boeing 737-8GU MSN 37552 L/N 3620 F/F 4/8/11
UTair VQ-BQQ 5/26/11 - present

UTAir - Current Fleet
15 x ATR-42/72
31 x 737-500
6 x 737-400
9 x 737-800
3 x 767-200ER
2 x 767-300ER
Total: 66

VIM Airlines ceases operations

VIM Airlines (Russia) had it's AOC suspended, having recently ceased flight operations since October 16th. The airline has been technically bankrupt for some time, and has been parking or returning aircraft off lease in recent weeks, as well as having other aircraft seized by lessors. Nevertheless, a potential bailout has been proposed by Russian businessman Boris Karlov, and continues to be discussed. The airline was based at Moscow Domodedovo Airport providing international scheduled and charter services.

Ilyushin IL-62 VIM Airlines RA-86520

The airline was founded and commenced service in 2000 with a single IL-62

Boeing 757-230 MSN 25440 L/N 443 F/F 3/27/92
Condor D-ABNM 4/9/92 - 3/19/04
VIM Airlines RA-73012 8/1/04 - 11/29/16

The airline's profile changed significantly with the purchase of Condor's 757-200 fleet in 2004, with the aircraft (unusually) adopting Russian registrations. Western aircraft operated in Russia typically use Cayman Islands registration prefixes (VQ/VP) or Irish (EI) registrations.

Airbus A319-111 MSN 3364 F/F 1/9/08
Hamburg International D-AHIH 1/22/08 - 10/20/10
AirBlue AP-EDB 12/29/10 - 2/15/14
VIM Airlines VQ-BTL 4/6/14 - 10/24/17

The airline operated 757s only for the next ten years, until 2014, when it started adding a mix of different aircraft types. Four A319s were added in Spring 2014.

Boeing 767-31AER MSN 27619 L/N 595 F/F 9/26/95
Martinair Holland PH-MCV 11/6/95 - 11/19/02
African Safari Airways 5Y-QQQ 5/9/03 - 9/30/04
Holland Exel PH-MCV 10/13/04 - 5/1/05
Arkefly PH-MCV 5/1/05 - 10/30/07
Varig Airlines PR-VAE 1/22/08 - 7/31/08
Blue Panorama EI-EED 5/4/09 - 8/5/13
VIM Airlines VP-BFI 9/5/14 - 10/23/17

Also in 2014, the first wide body, a 767-300ER was inducted, one of two the airline would operate

Boeing 777-2H6ER MSN 28413 L/N 128 F/F 2/26/98
Malaysia Airlines 9M-MRF 3/18/98 - 8/31/15
VIM Airlines VP-BVA 4/27/16 - 10/28/17

The first of ten 777-200ERs arrived in 2016, the type becoming the airline's long haul flag ship.

Boeing 737-524 MSN 28915 L/N 2993 F/F 1/24/98
Continental Airlines N14654 2/11/98 - 9/21/08
Transaero EI-UNG 5/3/11 - 10/24/15
VIM Airlines VP-BVS 8/2/16 - 2/14/17 [Stored following accident damage]

Following the demise of fellow Russian airline Transaero, VIM added three of the former airline's 737-500s to it's short haul fleet in 2016.

Airbus A330-203 MSN 535 F/F 5/12/03
EVA Airways B-16302 7/4/03 - 5/5/15
VIM Airlines VP-BDV 12/23/16 - 9/22/17

Further fleet complexity was seen with the addition of two A330-200s in 2016 and 2017.

Boeing 777-31HER MSN 33501 L/N 516 F/F 5/3/05
Emirates A6-EBD 5/16/05 - 5/15/17
VIM Airlines VP-BIN 5/29/17 - 10/17

And finally...two ex-Emirates 777-300s were added to the fleet in May and July this year, the first being a -300ER and the second a standard -300 (both having different engines, GE and RR respectively!). Neither was liveried, and operated all-white during their brief VIM Airlines tenure.

Nordwind leases first 777-300ER

Nordwind Airlines (Russia) has leased it's first Boeing 777-300ER (MSN 32639) from DAE Capital. The ex-EVA Air aircraft was delivered new July 27th 2005, and sold and leased back to GE Capital on delivery. The aircraft was sold to DAE Capital June 2008, and continued on lease to EVA Air until May this year. This is only the second used 777-300ER to be leased by a Russian airline, while Aeroflot operates 16 that were delivered new. [Postscript: a second 777-300ER (MSN 32640), with the same pedigree and lessor, was delivered 10/31/17]

Nordwind already operates four 777-200ERs, three GE powered and one RR powered.

Boeing 777-35EER MSN 32639 L/N 524 F/F 6/29/05
B-16701 EVA Air 7/05 - 5/17
VP-BJL Nordwind Airlines 8/17 - present

Nordwind Airlines - Current Fleet
8 x 737-800
7 x A321-200
2 x A330-200
4 x 777-200ER
1 x 777-300ER
Total: 22

Royal Flight leases a Rolls-Royce powered 767-300ER

Royal Flight (Russia) leased a Rolls-Royce powered Boeing 767-300ER (MSN 28149/627 VP-BRE) from Aersale (US), adding to two General Electric powered aircraft in it's fleet. This is the first time a (rare) Rolls-Royce powered 767 has operated for a Russian airline.

This example, model 767-3W0ER, was delivered new to China Yunnan Airlines as B-2569 September 11th 1996. The aircraft transferred to China Eastern Airlines when the airlines merged April 1st 2003. MIAT Mongolian Airlines leased the aircraft between May 2011 and May 2016 as JU-1011. The aircraft has been stored at Roswell, NM since then.

14 RR 767-300ERs remain in service, out of 31 delivered. China Yunnan received three, while the remainder were all delivered to British Airways (seven remain in service with BA).

Boeing 767-3W0ER MSN 28149 L/N 627 F/F 8/31/96 Royal Flight VP-BRE 8/22/17
History: China Yunnan Airlines B-2569 9/1/96 - 4/1/03
China Eastern Airlines B-2569 4/1/03 - 5/24/11
MIAT Mongolian Airlines JU-1011 5/30/11 - 5/23/16
Royal Flight VP-BRE 8/22/17 - present

Royal Flight - Current Fleet
1 x 737-800
6 x 757-200
3 x 767-300ER
Total: 10

Yamal Airlines retires the 737-500

Yamal Airlines (Russia) has retired it's last Boeing 737-500, having operated a total of six from 2007. The aircraft have been replaced by seven new Sukhoi Superjet 100s. Two 737-400s remain in service, while the remainder of the fleet comprises: 10 x Bombardier CRJ-200s, 8 x A320s and 2 x A321s.

Boeing 737-5Q8 MSN 28201/2999 2/6/98 Yamal Airlines (Aercap) VQ-BNM

History
Rio Sul PT-SSF 2/98 - 1/06
Pegasus Airlines TC-AAD 7/06 - 5/11
Yamal Airlines VQ-BNM 8/11 - 8/17

S7 Airlines takes delivery of first A320 NEO

S7 Airlines (Russia) has taken delivery of it's first Airbus A320 NEO (MSN 7629 VQ-BCF) on lease from BOC Aviation. S7 becomes the first Russian airline to operate the A320 NEO, with an additional 17 on order, plus three or more A321 NEOs.

Airbus A320-271N (P&W) MSN 7629 S7 Airlines VQ-BCF

S7's existing substantial fleet comprises:

19 x 737-800
2 x 767-300ER
14 x A319
18 x A320
1 x A320 NEO
6 x A321
4 x E-170
Total: 69

Airbus A320 NEO deliveries now total 56 powered by Pratt & Whitney and 70 powered by CFM International, for a total of 126 (plus 5 A321 NEOs).

Azimut Airlines takes delivery of it's first Superjets

Avimut Airlines (Russia) has taken delivery of it's first two (of four) Sukhoi Superjet 100s, both leased from GTLK.

Nordwind Airlines leases first A330-200

Nordwind Airlines (Russia) took delivery on July 7th of it's first Airbus A330-200 (MSN 1213 VP-BYU), leased from AerCap. The aircraft was delivered new to TAM Brasil in April 2011, and most recently operated with THY Turkish Airlines between April 2015 and October 2016. A second example (MSN 1221) with a similar history, was delivered July 10th.

Nordwind's fleet now numbers 21 jet aircraft: 8 x 737-800, 4 x 777-200ER, 7 x A321, 2 x A330-200

Airbus A330-223 MSN 1221 Nordwind Airlines VY-BYV

VIM Airlines leases first 777-300

VIM Airlines (Russia) leased it's first Boeing 777-300 (MSN 29067/408 VP-BSF), adding to a recently leased 777-300ER. Both aircraft were previously operated by Emirates. VIM also operates 10 777-200ERs.

VIM Airlines leases first 777-300ER

VIM Airlines (Russia) leased it's first Boeing 777-300ER (MSN 33501/516 VP-BIN) from Air Lease (US). The ex-Emirates aircraft joins an existing fleet of 10 777-200ERs. This is the first Emirates 777-300ER to have been returned off lease. VIM also operates 3 737-500s, 5 757-200s, 2 767-300ERs and from Airbus 4 A319s and 2 A330-200s.

Russia's MC-21-300 makes maiden flight

Russia's Irkut MC-21-300 made it's maiden flight May 28th. The mid sized airliner can seat up to 211 passengers in a single class, while a two class cabin would seat between 132 and 163 passengers. Powered by two of Pratt & Whitney's geared turbofans, a Russian engine option from Aviadvigatel will later be offered. Irkut also plans to build a smaller model - MC-21-200. As of last year, the manufacturer listed 175 orders for the type.

Nordwind leases first new A321

Nordwind Airlines (Russia) leased it's first new build A321-200 (MSN 7686 VQ-BRS) from CALC (China Aircraft Leasing Company). The aircraft adds to 5 existing used A321s in Nordwind's fleet. The airline also operates 5 Boeing 737-800s and 3 777-200ERs.

Red Wings acquires first western built aircraft

Red Wings Airlines (Russia) has leased it's first western built aircraft, a 2002 built Airbus A321-200 (MSN 1843 VP-BRS), leased from Aviation Capital Group (US). The aircraft was delivered new to Spanair, and last operated for Nordwind Airlines. The Moscow based airline has until now only operated Russian built aircraft, with it's current fleet including 8 Tupolev TU-204s and 1 Tupolev TU-214. An additional 5 A320 family aircraft are expected to be acquired (with an additional A321 and first A320, leased from AerCap in early June).