VIM-Avia receives first Airbus A330

VIM-Avia’s first А330-200 was manufactured in 2003 (Photo by VIM-Avia)

Russian airline VIM-Avia received first Airbus А330-200 continuing to expand its wide-body fleet. According to the airline, the airliner is capable to carry 252 passengers with 24 seats in the business class and 228 in the economy class. The aircraft will be used to develop the airline’s route network.

According to open source data, this А330-200 with tail number VP-BDV was built in 2003 and leased from SMBC Aviation Capital. The airframe was previously operated by Thai EVA Airways.

VIM-Avia has been actively expanding its fleet since the last year. As of December 2016, beside the new А330-200, the airline’s fleet consists of two Boeing 737-500, six Boeing 757-200 and four Airbus A319, as well as two wide-body Boeing 767-300 и six Boeing 777-200.

From January to November VIM-Avia took the ninth place among Russian largest operators by passengers carried –it served 1.967 million passengers (+30.4% compared to 2015). This growth was not least due to rapid fleet expansion.

The carrier’s business is based on scheduled and charter passenger flights from Moscow and Russian regional centers to destinations inside Russia, in Central Asia and Europe.
Russian Aviation Insider