Russia's Red Wings Eyes Ex-Transaero Tu-214s

Red Wings (Russia) (WZ, Moscow Vnukovo) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Evgeny Klyucharev has confirmed his airline is in talks with lessor Ilyushin Finance Co. to take over three Tu-214s formerly in service with Transaero Airlines (UN, Moscow Vnukovo).

The three aircraft -- RA-64509 (msn 42305009), RA-64518 (msn 42305018), and RA-64549 (msn 42305013) -- have been parked at Moscow Domodedovo following Transaero's collapse last month.

Klyucharev told journalists in Moscow last week that the Tu-214s would increase Red Wings' network coverage given the type's added range over the Tu-204 model of which Red Wings currently operates nine.

Aside from the Tupolev Design Bureau (Moscow Zhukovsky) twinjets, Red Wings also operates five SSJ 100-95s with plans to add five more airframes next year.

All of Red Wings' aircraft are leased from IFC.