VIM-Avia receives its first Boeing 737

The airline’s first Boeing 737 has already been painted into VIM colors (Photo from Twitter)

The air carrier VIM-Avia is preparing for the delivery of its first Boeing 737. Details about when the airline expects to receive the narrow-body aircraft have not yet been released.

The leasing company TransFin-M told Russian Aviation Insider that VIM-Avia will receive a Boeing 737-500 that was formerly operated by Transaero. TransFin-M said that aircraft, arranged in a single-class 126-seat configuration, will be delivered very soon, and that at the moment the aircraft is undergoing technical service.

TransFin-M has three aircraft in its fleet that were formerly operated by Transaero—two narrow-body Boeing 737-500s and one wide-body Boeing 767-300ER—which are currently being renovated for remarketing. When asked about how many aircraft will be handed over to VIM-Avia, a spokesperson for the leasing company said, “We are able to say something for sure about only one aircraft.”

Earlier, the technical director for VIM-Avia, Daniil Mazilin, said that the airline is currently carrying out talks about taking delivery of three Boeing 737-500s, saying that one of these 737s was formerly operated by Transaero. The airline has posted an inquiry for a pilot instructor for the Boeing 737Classic.

Since May, VIM-Avia has also taken delivery of wide-body aircraft, Boeing 777 and 767. The carrier has not specified how many of each type they have ordered.

VIM-Avia today operates 10 narrow-body aircraft: six Boeing 757s and four Airbus A319s.