VIM Airlines

VIM Airlines (legally VIM Avia) was^[1] a Russian charter airline headquartered in Moscow^[2] based at Domodedovo International Airport. It offered international scheduled and charter operations for both passengers and cargo as well as wet lease services. Its licence was revoked by 4 November 2017^[1] after its operations were suspended a few weeks earlier.

VIM Airlines

IATA ICAO Call sign NN MOV MOV AIR
Founded	2000
Ceased operations	16 October 2017
Hubs	Domodedovo International Airport Vnukovo International Airport
Fleet size	28
Destinations	50
Headquarters	Moscow, Russia
Key people	Alexander Kochnev (Director General) Rashid Mursekaev (President, owner)
Website	vim-avia.com

History

VIM Airlines was established by Viktor Ivanovich Merkulov (hence the name of the company) and started operations in 2000, with an Ilyushin Il-62M. At the end of 2004, the company acquired Chitaavia and Aerobratsk, followed by Russian Sky Airlines in 2005.

On 28 September 2017, CEO Alexander Cochnev and Chief Accountant Yekaterina Panteleyeva were arrested after an embezzlement case against the employers of the company.^[3]

In late September 2017, VIM Airlines' aircraft were seized at foreign airports and several routes were cancelled, including all operations from its home base Moscow-Domodedovo. The airline's aircraft were seized by lessors in Turkey following ongoing investigations by the Russian authorities.^[4] The airline suspended all charter operations in September 2017 and suspended all scheduled operations on 15 October 2017.^[5] On 4 November 2017, the airline's license was revoked by Russian authorities as the airline was unable to resume flights.^[1]

Fleet

VIM Airlines Airbus A319-100

VIM Airlines Boeing 777-200ER

A now-retired Ilyushin Il-62M, VIM Airlines' first aircraft

Former fleet

As of 23 September 2017, the VIM Airlines fleet consisted of the following aircraft:^[6]

VIM Airlines fleet

Aircraft	In service	Orders	Passengers			Notes
			C	Y	Total
Airbus A319-100	4	—	–	150	150
Airbus A330-200	2	—	24	228	252
Boeing 757-200	3	—	–	220	220
Boeing 767-300ER	2	—	12	259	271
Boeing 777-200ER	10	—	35	247	282
			30	293	323
Boeing 777-300ER	2	—	42	386	428
Total	23	—

Retired fleet

VIM Airlines previously operated the following aircraft:^{[citation needed]}

• Ilyushin Il-62M^{[citation needed]}
• Tupolev Tu-154 (leased from Aviaprad)^{[citation needed]}
• Yakovlev Yak-42 (leased from KrasAir)^{[citation needed]}

See also

• List of defunct airlines of Russia