Red Wings receives its first foreign-built aircraft

Red Wings is planning to eventually replace its Tupolev and Airbus airliners with Irkut MC21s The carrier is planning to add five more A320-family airliners to its fleet (Ilya Martemyanov)

Russian airline Red Wings, which had until recently operated only domestically built aircraft, took delivery of its first single-aisle Airbus A321 (serial number 802, manufactured in 1998) on May 19 at the carrier’s base airport Domodedovo (Moscow).

Red Wings’ plans to add Airbus aircraft to its fleet became public this February. The airline is planning to take five more A320-family airliners. These will include one A321 leased by Aviation Capital Group, as well as four A320s initially meant for Nordavia, a Red Wings partner which was originally planning to expand its fleet by 12 of the type. The airframes are understood to be covered by a six-year lease contract.

The A320 family aircraft will be the intermediary stage for the airline to prepare routes for its future similar-capacity Russian Irkut MC-21 single-aisle aircraft (Red Wings has already placed an order for 10 of the type). The A320 baseline configuration seats between 150 and 180 passengers; the A321 seats between 185 and 236; the MC-21-300 holds between 163 and 211 seats.

Red Wings CEO Evgeny Klyucharev says the airline plans to acquire 10 A321s, which will help it “get ready for MC-21 and repay the debts”. The Airbus aircraft will be maintained by Archangelsk-based MRO operator Nord-Technik.

The airline is also planning to add at least 16 MC-21s, to initially substitute its Tupolev Tu-204s and then the carrier’s entire A320 fleet as well. The just-delivered A321 complements the airline’s fleet of six Tu-204s and a single Tu-214. The operator originally expected to put into operation a VIP Tu-204-300 and another Tu-214, but these plans have since been abandoned.

Red Wings is now the 10th Airbus operator in Russia, with the country’s overall Airbus airliner fleet standing at around 290 units.

Red Wings is planning to receive five more A320-family airliners

The A321 was greeted by a water salute at Domodedovo (Ilya Martemyanov)

  • 8
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
Russian Aviation Insider
Newsletter
Powered by Air Transport Observer, Russia & CIS’ premier information provider on commercial aviation with a 20-year legacy, Russian Aviation Insider provides you with timely and reliable business news, insights and analysis on commercial aviation all around CIS.
Sign up for our free Newsletter and never miss:
  • Airline Business news and analysis
  • Aerospace Industry updates
  • Traffic statistic data and trends
  • Airport, MRO, Leasing and other related businesses
  • Appointments and promotions

Get relevant data from reliable industry sources!

3 Trackbacks & Pingbacks

  1. Red Wings looking to reach profitability in 2017 - Russian aviation news
  2. Red Wings receives fifth A320 family airliner - Russian aviation news
  3. MAKS: Interview with Airbus Vice-President Andreas Kramer - Russian aviation news

Leave a comment