Wim avia whose subsidiary. How the owner of VIM-Avia wanted to make Kazan a hub between China and Europe

The owners of the federal carrier re-registered VIM-Avia in one of the successful regions of Tatarstan

As it became known to Realnoe Vremya, in February of this year, Tatarstan quite imperceptibly acquired another airline, at least legally. The international carrier VIM-Avia, based in Domodedovo, has changed its Moscow registration to ... Sabinsky district. Officially, no one has yet commented on the reasons for the incident. But experts are at a loss: whether it is about buying a second carrier for international flights or only about getting a large taxpayer for the Tatarstan budget.

Township international airline

As Realnoe Vremya has learned, one of the largest Russian air carriers VIM-Avia received registration in Tatarstan (carries out international transportation, currently 10 aircraft fly, including 6 Boeing-757s, and another 12 Airbus aircraft have been ordered). Initially, the company was registered in Moscow, on Dmitrovsky highway. In November 2015, the legal address was changed to Bagrationovsky Proezd, and on February 3, 2016, according to the Spark system, to Stroiteley Street, 1A in the urban-type settlement of Bogatye Saby. The same address is listed as legal on the website of the company itself, while maintaining the same actual address in Moscow.

Interestingly, several other legal entities are registered in the same building in Bogatye Sabah, including those 100% owned by the executive committee of the Sabinsky municipal district. However, the district administration does not comment on the situation with the re-registration of the air carrier. By the time the material was published, no official response had been received from VIM-Avia.

The airline had no prior ties to Tatarstan, except that its current co-owner, Rashid Mursekaev, is an ethnic Tatar.

In general, Rashid Mursekaev is a Tatar from Barnaul, perhaps he has roots from the Rich Subs - I did not specify, - jokes Azat Khakim, director of the Tulpar company. - Maybe he wanted to help his historical homeland with taxes, and not give everything to Moscow.

However, our republic is not his native region, and the airline has much more ties with Bashkiria, but more on that later. True, not so long ago, VIM-Avia applied to the Federal Air Transport Agency for a Kazan-Paris flight, but in February of this year, admission was denied. The company has no other flights from Kazan.

One of the possible reasons for re-registration could be the withdrawal from creditors. The airline owed 4 billion rubles to Sberbank. Photo epa.eu

Leaving creditors?

One of the possible reasons for re-registration could be the withdrawal from creditors. Last year, the company's claims were made first by VTB, and then by Sberbank. Moreover, Sberbank threatened the carrier with bankruptcy, accusing it of not paying the debt for more than nine months. Then, according to the bank, the total debt of VIM-Avia exceeded 4.3 billion rubles, and the airline owed 4 billion rubles directly to Sberbank.

However, absolutely all experts interviewed by Realnoe Vremya are sure that debts are unlikely to be the reason for re-registration. Moreover, large loans are a normal situation for the air transportation market. And the problems with Sberbank, apparently, were resolved last year.

I had information that last summer they closed all issues related to banking relations, and there are no problems there, - says Petr Trubaev, CEO of UVT-aero.

The company itself also says that the story of Sberbank's claims is in the past.

Tatarstan bought VIM-Avia?

An unexpected suggestion about another possible reason re-registration was expressed by Azamat Sabirov, director of AVT:

Maybe the republic is thinking about the need for its own powerful carrier? Perhaps we are talking about the fact that VIM-Avia was bought. If this really happened, it means that the authorities of Tatarstan are thinking about the base carrier, which will allow expanding the program of flights from Kazan. Tatarstan is starting to grow in terms of tourist flow. We need to move more extensively in this direction. If so, then this is a very good step.

According to Sabirov, such a decision suggested itself long ago, even after the closure of the Tatarstan and Ak Bars Aero airlines. When asked what the existing UVT-aero does not like, the answer is just as logical - the lack of the ability to carry out international flights.

There was an airline "Tatarstan", which had ICAO certification (International Civil Aviation Organization - ed.), - says Sabirov. - By known reasons it was closed, although the debts of the Tatarstan airline were negligible compared to the debts of the same UTair and Transaero. The debts of the Tatarstan airline were transferred to the Ak Bars Aero company, which aggravated the already difficult situation. Plus, there was also the Bugulma airport hanging on Ak Bars Aero. This made it impossible for Ak Bars Aero to break through, although both of these companies had the opportunity to fly abroad. JSC "Tatarstan" had access to wide-body aircraft, "Ak Bars Aero" was thinking about getting such access. "UVT" - new airline, and they do not yet have the ability to operate international flights until they fly 2 years. Even if they wanted to, they still can't do it.

Perhaps the company was persuaded by some kind of preferences to relocate to Kazan, argues Azamat Sabirov. Photo by Maxim Platonov

Did Tatarstan get a big taxpayer during the crisis?

At first glance, Azat Hakim's playful assumption about helping his historical homeland with taxes also looks logical. Even if Tatarstan did not buy VIM-Avia, but only convinced them to re-register, there is mutual benefit in this decision. The republic receives taxes, and the air carrier receives additional preferences.

Or she was persuaded by some kind of preferences to relocate to Kazan, - says Azamat Sabirov. – By and large, re-registration for an airline is an opportunity to receive benefits. But you need to understand that if VIM-Avia re-registers in Kazan, it will be able to participate in the program of preferential financing of regional transportation. But as soon as this happened, the Rosaviatsia started talking about the fact that Kazan should be deprived of benefits. Apparently, we are talking about the fact that the company is trying to optimize costs.

From the point of view of the republic's economy, the benefit is even more obvious - just look at the company's turnover. As of the end of 2014 (the latest available figures), the revenue of VIM-Avia Airlines LLC amounted to 12.6 billion rubles. This result increased by one third compared to 2013 (then it was 9.4 billion rubles). Gross profit amounted to 1.396 billion rubles, here the growth is even more noticeable - 6.5 times - from 212 million rubles. However, due to an increase in interest payable from RUB 464 million to RUB 816 million and deferred tax liabilities from RUB 273 million to RUB 326 million, net income more than tripled, from RUB 133 million in 2013 to RUB 39 million in 2014.

The company's assets at the end of 2014 amounted to 13.2 billion rubles (12.1 billion rubles a year earlier). Long-term liabilities increased from 7.9 billion rubles to 8.3 billion rubles. Accounts payable also increased - from 1.5 billion rubles to 2.1 billion rubles. In general, short-term liabilities increased from 2.8 billion rubles to 4 billion rubles.

However, 2015, despite the crisis, was clearly successful for the company and was marked by its transition to regular flights.

In 2004, the company began replacing its fleet of Il-62 and An-12 aircraft with Boeing 757s. Photo airliners.net

From charter to regular

VIM-Avia was founded in 2002 by Viktor Merkulov, director of Aerofreight. In 2004, it began to replace its fleet, which consisted of Il-62 and An-12 aircraft, with Boeing 757s. At the same time, it began charter flights to Italy and Spain, as well as regular flights to Bratsk and Chita. In 2005, flights to Sochi and Ufa were launched.

In 2006, a subsidiary was created - the airline "Bashkortostan". By 2007, it became the largest Russian airline in terms of passenger traffic on charter flights. By 2010, it operated flights to 17 cities, including Barcelona, ​​Naples, Thessaloniki, Palermo, Rimini, Malaga, Ganja.

Engaged in regular and charter flights, based in Moscow Domodedovo. After Transaero left the market, VIM-Avia managed to get new directions for regular flights. As a result, in 2015 it carried a record 1.6 million passengers, performed more than 11 thousand flights, about 90% of which were regular.

Airport and airline owners

The entire business of its current owners, the Mursekaev family, is also impressive. According to the Spark system, the founders of VIM-Avia are Svetlana Mursekaeva (79% share), the Liechtenstein company Hercules Partners Gemini-Gemini II Foundation (20% share), another 1% belongs to Rashid Mursekaev.

VIM-Avia was previously a 100% founder of JSC Aerochita ( international Airport"Chita" in the Trans-Baikal Territory), now owned by the Cypriot company T.S. Trans Siberia Co Limited, and Aerobratsk PJSC (Bratsk airport in Irkutsk region), now owned by the Moscow-based Technopolis LLC. It should be noted that the registered name of Technopolis LLC in Latin is VIM-Avia Finance, which allows us to conclude that the structures of the Mursekaev family actually retain control over the enterprise. In addition, previously Technopolis LLC belonged to the VIM-Avia airline, and even earlier, by 0.01%, to Rashid Mursekaev.

50% of OJSC VIM-Avia Holding belongs to Rashid Mursekaev (right), who is called the owner of the airline. Photo bashinform.ru

Svetlana Mursekaeva is officially the main owner of VIM-Avia, she owns 50% of VIM-Avia Holding OJSC, the remaining half belongs to Rashid Mursekaev, who is called the owner of the airline. Rashid Mursekaev, in addition, owns 66% of VIM-Avia Tours LLC (the remaining 34% belongs to Yuri Fenenko).

VIM-Avia Airlines LLC previously owned 25% of the shares of Ticket Ufa LLC, 100% of the shares of Bashkortostan Airlines LLC. The latter became part of VIM-Avia, like the Russian Sky airline, which also belonged to VIM-Avia by 99.97%. Rashid Mursekaev was a co-owner of Ruslan Air CJSC, another airline that was included in VIM-Avia. In addition, Mursekaev owned 100% of the now defunct Ufa BAL-Service LLC, which was officially engaged in the operation and management of airport terminals. Previously, 10% of BAL-Service was owned by Konstantin Zhuravov, who also owned 22% of Ufa-Aero LLC.

In addition, Mursekaev owned 49% of Leasing 757 CJSC from the Altai Republic, which was engaged in ground handling of ships.

Industrialist and banker of the Ministry of Transport

According to open sources, Rashid Mursekaev was born in 1965, in the early 1990s he was engaged in the supply of food and consumer goods from Asia on account of debts for Russian weapons and aircraft equipment, together with Sergei Nedoroslev.

Nedoroslev is the president of the KASKOL group, which operates in various fields, including the production and modernization of MiG aircraft, ice and nuclear surface shipbuilding, the production of hydraulics and landing gear for the aerospace industry, and is also engaged in super-heavy cargo transportation with the Volga-Dnepr airline, a native of which was the founder of VIM-Avia Merkulov.

In the late 1990s, Mursekaev was the general director of ZAO Central Selling Organization, from 1998 to 2004 he was deputy chairman of the board of OAO Morbank (an industry bank of the Ministry of Transport). In 2001, Mursekaev's Center-Capital company gained control over the Far Eastern Shipping Company, and in 2002 Mursekaev bought part of VIM-Avia, and subsequently received full control over the airline.

Dmitry Semyagin, Maxim Matveev

The co-owner of VIM-Avia, Rashid Mursekaev, and his wife Svetlana, who also has a stake in the airline, left Russia on September 26. On September 25, the Investigative Committee opened a fraud case against the management of VIM-Avia. According to investigators, airline officials, having no money and contracts for the purchase of fuel for aircraft and "the ability to fulfill their obligations to transport passengers," continued to sell air tickets and received "for this, by fraud, funds in the amount of more than 1 million rubles."

The departure of Mursekaev became known on the evening of September 27, according to Interfax sources and the head of the Federal Air Transport Agency, Alexander Neradko. “Mursekaev left the country on Tuesday, flew from Sheremetyevo,” they said. “According to some reports, he flew from Vnukovo to Turkey, presumably to Istanbul.” Neradko, speaking in the State Duma, said that Mursekaev was summoned to a special meeting due to flight delays, but he did not appear. “I stopped answering phone calls,” Neradko said. “I assume that he is no longer on the territory of the Russian Federation.” Then RBC sources confirmed that "Mursekaev left the country with his family", flying to Istanbul.

On the morning of September 27, Mursekaev was supposed to appear at a special meeting in the State Duma and pay the airline's current expenses in the amount of 50 million rubles from his personal money, said Neradko, head of the Federal Air Transport Agency.

Earlier, Neradko said that VIM-Avia had accumulated a huge debt for aviation fuel, because of this, on September 23, the airline had to postpone 15 of its flights for an indefinite period. On Monday, September 25, she delayed another 20 regular flights and canceled all charter flights. In addition, the remaining flights of VIM-Avia had to be moved to Vnukovo, because Domodedovo (the airline's home airport) refused to refuel its aircraft on credit. Despite all the problems with paying for fuel, the airline continued to sell tickets for its flights.

Neradko also stated that according to the results of the last financial audit of VIM-Avia in 2016, the airline did not reveal any problems. Russian President Vladimir Putin reacted harshly to his words. He called for the development of new airline screening criteria that would better detect financial problems. He also told Transport Minister Maksim Sokolov about "complete official inconsistency" and criticized Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich, who oversees transport, for not coping with the situation.

At a meeting with the government, the head of state severely criticized the situation around VIM-Avia. "We have now discussed this with the Prime Minister, I draw the attention of the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of transport: you do not pay enough attention to this industry. Not enough. Maybe you are too overloaded? We have already talked about this," the President addressed Arkady Dvorkovich.

"And I want to tell the minister [Maxim Sokolov]: I announce to you about incomplete official compliance," the head of state addressed the head of the Ministry of Transport.

In addition, Putin criticized the ministry's criteria for failing to prevent a crisis around the airline.

“Yesterday we talked with the Minister [of Transport] about this. Maxim Yuryevich [Sokolov] told me that this company fully met all the criteria [for carriers]," Putin said at a meeting with members of the government. "He knows my reaction, I will not repeat [it], but I will repeat in one part: if you have developed such criteria, then what are they worth?" the President asked.

Putin demanded that Sokolov "quickly and effectively" solve the problem around VIM-Avia and submit proposals for strengthening the regulation of the air transportation sector.

TASS, September 27

Due to delays in VIM-Avia flights, about 3,000 people were affected on September 23, and up to 80,000 people were affected due to the cancellation of all charter flights two days later. Irina Tyurina, spokeswoman for the Russian Union of Travel Industry, said that this number includes VIM-Avia passengers who have already flown on vacation or were going on vacation before the end of the season. Moreover, if those who were just going on vacation can return the money for unused vouchers, then for those who have already flown to it, now they need to urgently look for free planes. Rostourism had to create an operational headquarters for the return of Russian clients of VIM-Avia from abroad (there are 43,000 of them, according to Turpomoshch).

Regular flights "VIM-Avia" agreed to perform other Russian airlines: " Ural Airlines", i-Fly, Red Wings, Nordstar, Icarus", " North wind"and" Yakutia ". Their costs will be compensated from the federal budget, about 200 million rubles will be allocated for this.

As stated in the Ministry of Transport, the transportation of passengers of regular flights of VIM-Avia will be carried out until October 15, from October 16 it will be stopped. Passengers who have tickets for a regular flight dated October 16 were advised by the Ministry of Transport to return them to the ticket office at the place of purchase.

September 28, 10:31 am Business FM reports that the co-owner of VIM-Avia, Rashid Mursekaev, is in Russia, he is being interrogated by investigators. There is no confirmation of this information from other sources yet.

The owner of VIM-Avia, Rashid Mursekaev, did not leave Russia. According to Business FM, now Mursekaev is being interrogated by investigators of the Investigative Committee. This was reported by sources close to the situation.

The general director of VIM-Avia, Alexander Kochnev, was detained. At night, searches were also carried out at the premises of key employees of the airline.

Business FM

September 28, 11:28 General Director of VIM-Avia Alexander Kochnev and Chief Accountant airlines Ekaterina Panteleeva was detained as part of a criminal case, the Investigative Committee reported. The information that Mursekaev is in Russia (previously reported by Business FM) was denied by the department.

In the near future, they will be charged, after which the investigation plans to petition the court for the election of a preventive measure against the defendants in the criminal case.

The co-owners of the company, Rashid and Svetlana Mursekaeva, hastily left the country, and according to the information available to the investigation, they are abroad. In this regard, measures are being taken to establish their location.

TATARSTAN GOES TOGETHER

Over the past 24 hours, two federal publications at once - The Bell (former RBC team) and Vedomosti - reported that Tatneft agreed to help the VIM-Avia airline, which cancels and delays flights and may completely stop flights due to debts to Domodedovo airport. On Saturday, September 23, the Russian Investigative Committee reported that the carrier had canceled or delayed indefinitely more than a dozen flights, both domestic and international. The head of the Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin instructed to conduct a pre-investigation check on these facts. According to the UK, the delay of 15 flights on September 22 and 23 caused damage to almost 3 thousand passengers.

The main problem, according to information leaked to the media, is the carrier's large debt to Domodedovo for airport services and, above all, for fuel. Debts only to the airport reach 500 million rubles. Here, Tatneft went to meet VIM-Avia, providing Domodedovo with a guarantee letter for payment. Recall that the supply of jet fuel is engaged in the "daughter" of "Tatneft" - "Tatneftyaviaservis". In addition, according to The Bell, Tatneft's Zenit bank also provided material assistance to the airline. According to a source from BUSINESS Online, Tatneft and Zenit are indeed the airline's creditors (it is not known how many of them there are). According to him, VIM-Avia's debt to Zenit exceeds 1 billion rubles. Aircraft and real estate remain as collateral to the bank. Yesterday in Moscow, at the initiative of the Federal Air Transport Agency, a council of creditors of VIM-Avia was held with the participation of Tatneft, Zenit and Domodedovo, as well as a whole group of players. At the meeting, a decision was made to restructure the airline's debts, with which all creditors agreed. For how long, our interlocutor did not specify.

An interesting moment: the airline is registered in Tatarstan, in the village of Bogatye Saby - it changed its registration from Moscow to Tatarstan in February of this year. The owners of VIM-Avia, according to the official information of the airline, are Tatar businessman Rashid Mursekaev and his wife Svetlana. It should be noted that, according to the Kontur.Focus database, VIM-Avia has been credited with Zenit for a long time: 5% of VIM-Avia Airlines LLC is pledged in this bank in accordance with a loan agreement dated December 8, 2016.

Zenit Bank declined to comment on the situation, while Tatneft responded very reservedly. “Yes, we, as fuel suppliers, are one of the creditors, but no more,” the press service of the oil company said in response to our request. And the head of the press service of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan, Eduard Khairullin, told BUSINESS Online that "neither the government of Tatarstan nor Tatneft have any relation to the VIM-Avia airline and its obligations."

“THE MANAGER IS INTERESTING, INTELLIGENT, BUT HAS NOT CALCULATED HIS FINANCIAL STRENGTH”

Players of the Tatarstan aviation market say that they are well acquainted with the owner of VIM-Avia. “I know Rashid Mursekaev well. He is not from Tatarstan, he is from Barnaul, he is simply an ethnic Tatar. Have known each other for many years. The head is interesting, intelligent, but, unfortunately, he did not calculate his financial strength, ”says Azat Khakim, chairman of the board of directors of Tulpar Group of Companies.

The general director of UVT Aero, Petr Trubaev, also speaks about his personal acquaintance with Mursekaev: “I only wish the best for this airline, especially since I personally know its leader and would like them to get out of this situation faster. I would not want our colleagues, having got into such a situation, to get out of it unworthily.

The source of "BUSINESS Online" in the aviation market told how "VIM-Avia" got to Tatarstan. According to him, Mursekaev planned to develop freight air transportation in the direction of China - Europe through Kazan and, accordingly, intended to "make friends" with the Kazan airport. In order to establish work in Tatarstan, he, on the advice of his business partners, big businessmen, registered a company in Sabakh. However, the cargo project did not go ahead (but the registration remained!), and the current one began to experience difficulties. The two main areas of work of VIM-Avia are the charter transportation of tourists and shift workers, the first of which failed. The company developed rapidly, too dynamically, and eventually "undermined its strength," says our source.

However, VIM-Avia entered into relations with Zenit even before the "moving" to Tatarstan - probably back in Moscow. Recall that two years ago Tatneft itself entered the aviation business by purchasing air gate south-east of Tatarstan - Bugulma airport. In Zakamye, the only republican airline UVT Aero left after the bankruptcies of AK Tatarstan and Ak Bars Aero is based (registered as a private individual). The latter has planned to upgrade the fleet, the company now owns seven Bombardiers and two helicopters. Just the other day, UVT Aero received permission from the Federal Air Transport Agency for international flights.

WILL WE FLIGHT?

Judging by the information of our source, after the decision on debt restructuring, flights should resume as normal. Judging by the online scoreboard of the VIM-Avia base airport, the company has a high workload in the next two days and plans flights not only in Russia and neighboring countries, but also to Belgium and China. Today, 10 aircraft of the company are to fly from Domodedovo to Antalya (Turkey), Sochi, Simferopol, Blagoveshchensk, Anadyr, Taiyuan (China), Pevek, Irkutsk, Haikou (China). Another 9 aircraft are to fly to Moscow from Antalya, Krasnodar, Yerevan (Armenia), Liege (Belgium), Dalaman (Turkey), Sochi and Simferopol. On September 26, VIM-Avia scheduled 15 flights to the same cities as today, and 13 more back.

So far, neither the airline itself nor the authorities have given official information about the regularity of flights. Adviser to the head of the Federal Air Transport Agency, Sergei Izvolsky, in an interview with BUSINESS Online, said that the official position of the department on the situation with VIM-Avia would be published on the official website of the Federal Air Transport Agency during the day. He refused to give even a rough estimate of the state of affairs because, in his words, the case concerns "the fate of thousands of passengers who have bought tickets."

Elena Fedorova, Director of Public Relations of VIM-Avia, told us that the airline is now participating in a meeting of the operational headquarters of the Federal Air Transport Agency, and also held a series of consultations with government agencies that control the aviation industry. “Negotiations are underway with the partners of the airline. V this moment preliminary agreements have been reached, which should lead to a correction of the situation. A plan is being developed to resolve the situation together with financial institutions that have decided to support the airline. The airline apologizes to passengers for the inconvenience caused,” Fedorova said in response to an official request from our editorial board.

“THEY HAVE VERY COMPETENT MANAGEMENT, THEY HAVE ALWAYS MANAGED TO BE EFFECTIVE”

Experts of BUSINESS Online told about the probable fate of VIM-Avia and what to expect for the airline's passengers.

Azat Hakim - Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tulpar Air Group of Companies:

- The situation is really critical, because the airline has had these debts for more than a year and they are constantly negotiating, they are negotiating. But, apparently, the debts have become so critical that the airport will not make any concessions. It is clear that this did not just appear out of nowhere. The airline has acquired a lot of equipment, especially expensive - this is the Boeing 777. There are very large lease payments that need to be paid on time, and it is clear that the airline simply does not financially bear such costs. It is normal for an airline to borrow fuel, but in this case it already indicates that the financial situation is very difficult. If they already owe everyone, then the situation becomes critical. They owe lessors, carriers, overflights, and the worst thing is that they also owe salaries to employees. And when employees work in debt, they work without much zeal. With a greater degree of probability, I think that the company will be forced to stop its operations.

As for government support, there is no state participation in the company, and the Ministry of Transport is unlikely to meet halfway. The fact that tickets have already been sold, passengers need to be transported - we have already gone through this. They will redistribute to other airlines and take everyone out. In my opinion, the Ministry of Transport will make a more balanced decision - to subsidize those airlines that will then take out VIM-Avia passengers.

Oleg Panteleev - Editor-in-Chief of AviaPort.Ru:

— It all depends on what will be the relationship between the carrier and creditors, including service providers. Of course, we had precedents when service providers stopped serving an airline, and in connection with this, the organization ceased its operations. It is regrettable, but the risks are very high, but no one is interested in stopping the airline, because even for service providers it is quite obvious that the stoppage of the airline means that a significant part of the debt cannot be repaid. In addition, from the point of view of the government, VIM-Avia is one of the few carriers operating on regular lines to the Far East. The airline flew to Magadan, flew to Blagoveshchensk. From this point of view, of course, it would be important for the carrier to remain, because it increases transport accessibility Far Eastern regions. I repeat once again that a lot depends on creditors, and if the company is still supported by the government and provides financial guarantees, this will enable the airline to continue flying. In the long term, nothing positive is visible yet.

When traveling, it makes sense for passengers to take a supply of cash with them in order to pay for food, accommodation or transportation to their homes. You need to constantly monitor the readings on the scoreboard, which shows the parameters of the arrival and departure of the flight, if possible, contact the representatives of the airline. But it is worth noting that, following the example of previous problematic situations, when a particular company was on the verge of stopping or even stopped its flights, the government found an opportunity to redistribute passengers to other airlines. Thus, in some cases, their problems were minimized. If the passenger has a ticket that provides for a refund, then in the event of a long delay, it makes sense to make a refund, and with a high degree of probability the money will be returned quickly.

Roman Gusarov is the editor-in-chief of the industry portal Avia.ru:

— The airline always has a chance to survive, but it all depends on the goodwill and capabilities of those to whom the company turns for help. There are both negative and positive outcomes of such a situation. A vivid negative example is the TransAero company, which has accumulated so many debts that its support would make no sense, even with support it would remain unprofitable and would accumulate debts. At the same time, UTair experienced similar difficulties. And here the situation is completely different. Shareholders found an opportunity to support the airline with their resources by negotiating with creditors, restructured debts, optimized the structure of the company, reduced the fleet by about 40 percent aircraft. They lost their positions in the market, made a number of sacrifices, but brought the airline to a positive profitability zone. Yes, it has become smaller in volume, but it has ceased to produce losses, and now it is working quite successfully.

As for VIM-Avia, they have very competent management, they have always managed to be efficient. They were not inclined to any adventures, they did not particularly risk, but they always maintained their financial solvency quite well. And the company's reputation is good, it never had a major failure until this summer, there were no problems with creditors. I think we should support her. No one is interested in reducing market participants. If it goes at such a pace and leaves one or two major airline per year, then in a few years we can just stay with one carrier. Monopolization of the market is of no interest to anyone - neither the state nor the passengers. Therefore, an airline with a good reputation could be supported. I would rate the chances of survival 50/50.

Moscow, news September 27, 2017. Rashid Mursekaev offered to sell the airline for 1 ruble. The owner of VIM-Avia was invited to a meeting on the situation around the air carrier on the morning of September 27, did not attend the meeting and probably left Russia. This was stated by the leader federal agency air transport(Rosaviatsiya) Alexander Neradko, speaking in the State Duma.

He stressed that Rashid Mursekaev offered to sell the airline for 1 ruble. On September 25, Vim-Avia announced the termination of operations and that it could not carry passengers due to debts. According to the head of the Federal Air Transport Agency, at that meeting Mursekaev said that he was "tired of working in aviation, and he is ready to sell his business for a ruble."

Neradko said that Mursekaev was repeatedly called to the Federal Air Transport Agency, where he reported that the financial and economic condition of the airline was stable, and no cessation of operations was predicted.

“However, last week the owner of the airline turned to the Federal Air Transport Agency with a request to assist in negotiations with creditors on the allocation of additional borrowed funds to support operations,” Neradko said.

He stressed that his department tried to provide such support, but on September 25, Mursekov announced the termination of activities and the inability to fly within Russia and abroad due to the company's financial debts to suppliers.

According to Neradko, at a meeting of the owners and creditors of VIM-Avia, Mursekaev said that he was tired of working in aviation, he was ready to sell his business for a ruble and leave.

“I assume that he is now no longer on the territory Russian Federation. I guess,” Neradko said.

Law enforcement agencies cannot contact the co-owner of the VIM-Avia company, Rashid Mursekaev. According to some reports, he flew from Vnukovo airport to Turkey, presumably to Istanbul.

Rashid Mursekaev and his wife Svetlana Mursekaeva own 100% of VIM-Avia.

Aircraft of the VIM-Avia airline, which has now stopped charter flights, arrested at airports in Turkey and Belgium, said the head of the Federal Air Transport Agency Alexander Neradko, speaking in the State Duma.

“Now it is clear that the airline will not be able to take out charter passengers on its own. For debts, her planes were arrested at the airport of Antalya and Dalaman of the Republic of Turkey, as well as at the airport of Liege (Belgium - ed.),” Neradko said.

At the moment, according to two major travel operators alone, over 4 thousand tourists from Moscow and St. Petersburg are waiting for their departure in Turkey, who were supposed to fly home on flights of the VIM-Avia airline that has stopped all its charter programs. VIM-Avia airline to six banks.

For these tourists, there are still no free capacities on the aviation market, and operators, in accordance with their obligations, cannot currently guarantee them a flight to their place of permanent residence in the coming days. Tour operators are now doing their best to find at least some acceptable options, but so far there are no free planes.

Moreover, each day of waiting adds to the indicated number of new tourists who have not flown out - the rest of the next group ends, ”the Association said in a statement.

According to the Deputy CEO tour operator "NTK Intourist" Sergey Tolchin, which leads ATOR, the situation clearly requires emergency government intervention to resolve the issue.

Earlier it was reported that due to problems with the company, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced to the head of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation Maxim Sokolov about incomplete official compliance.

The problem airline VIM-Avia, due to the fraudulent actions of the management of which about 38 thousand passengers got stuck in foreign resorts, and accounts payable exceeded 7 billion rubles, has lost its management and owners.

General Director of VIM-Avia Alexander Kochnev and chief accountant Ekaterina Panteleeva were detained as part of a major fraud case, according to a statement on the website of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation. In the near future, both defendants will be charged, after which the investigation plans to petition the court for a preventive measure against them.

And the co-owners of VIM-Avia, Rashid and Svetlana Mursekaev, "hurriedly left the country, and, according to the information available to the investigation, they are abroad," the Investigative Committee noted. In this regard, measures are being taken to establish their location. "Currently, investigative actions are ongoing aimed at identifying all the persons involved in the theft Money, and the circumstances of the crime," the press service said in a statement.

The Mursekaevs will be put on the wanted list in a criminal case of fraud, law enforcement officials told TASS. "Their whereabouts have not yet been established. They will be declared first on the federal and then, possibly, on the international wanted list," the source said. According to him, Rashid Mursekaev was supposed to appear on Thursday for interrogation to the investigator, the day before he was sent a summons.

As part of the compensation for the victims of this fraud, a security lien will be imposed on the property of the co-owners and management of the company. Soon they may be charged in absentia and issued a sanction for arrest in absentia.

On the eve of TASS, law enforcement agencies reported that investigators interrogated Alexander Kochnev as a witness in the case, and then he was again summoned for interrogation. A source on Thursday clarified that the CEO was detained as a result of interrogation in the UK. "It was a second interrogation, the day before he was interrogated as a witness, he came to the investigators himself," the source said.

After massive delays and cancellations of VIM-Avia flights, a criminal case was initiated under Part 4 of Art. 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Fraud on an especially large scale"). The official representative of the RF IC Svetlana Petrenko said that on behalf of the head of the department, Alexander Bastrykin, the case was transferred to the central office of the IC.

According to the investigation, since September 22, the airline officials, knowing that there were not enough funds to purchase fuel, including at Domodedovo Airport, having no contracts with other suppliers and, thus, not being able to transport passengers, continued to sell tickets for flights. As a result, the management received more than 1 million rubles.

This week, VIM-Avia admitted that it does not have the funds to continue operating, after massive flight delays due to fuel debt of about 500 million rubles. The airline asked the Ministry of Transport to "consider the possibility of urgent provision of state guarantees" for 800-840 million rubles to pay for fuel and organize the export of passengers from abroad. The owner of the company, Rashid Mursekayev, published a video message in which he apologized to passengers for flight delays due to lack of funds.

Aircraft "VIM-Avia" were detained at airports for debts in Russia and abroad - in particular, in Spain, Belgium, Turkey and France. Only four aircraft out of 29 flew to Vnukovo from Domodedovo. For Tuesday-Wednesday, VIM-Avia performed only about 10 flights.

Turned out to be "non-returners" Russian citizens, which are mainly located in the resorts of Turkey and Greece, now rely only on the help of other airlines.

Greek EllinAir will return 245 VIM-Avia passengers from Heraklion to Moscow, TASS reports. In addition, it is planned to connect Yamal and Sibir airlines to the export of passengers.

For the export of tourists from Antalya on September 28, three VIM-Avia aircraft will be used, which were released the day before from Domodedovo Airport with refueling at Vnukovo. They will make two return flights to deliver about 1.5 thousand passengers from Turkey.

Rosaviatsia reports that Russian airlines which will carry passengers of VIM-Avia regular flights, about 200 million rubles will be allocated from the federal budget for 2018. However, it is only about domestic flights VIM-Avia.

VIM-Avia itself, which the Ministry of Transport restored passenger air transportation for half a month under its own guarantees, will also receive half a billion rubles in subsidies for air transportation from the state. However, experts are sure that such injections will not save the company and this is just a postponement of its inevitable end of existence.

Currently, VIM-Avia, which closes the top 10 airlines of the Russian Federation in terms of passenger traffic, there are six creditor banks, and its debt is approximately 7 billion rubles.

On Thursday night, it was announced that VIM-Avia aircraft would operate flights until mid-October. Passengers with a scheduled flight date from October 16 and later are recommended to return tickets at the place of purchase for a refund.

On Wednesday, Vladimir Putin, at a meeting with members of the government, announced to the head of the Ministry of Transport Maxim Sokolov about incomplete official compliance due to the situation with VIM-Avia, and accused Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich, who is in charge of transport problems, of insufficient attention to the industry.

The owners of VIM-Avia are Svetlana and Rashid Mursekaev. According to the SPARK-Interfax system, the company's revenue in 2016 amounted to 17.17 billion rubles, while the company recorded a small profit in its RAS financial statements - 89 million rubles. According to SPARK, Svetlana Mursekayeva recently pledged part of her stake in VIM-Avia Airlines LLC - 5% of the authorized capital - in Zenit Bank.