Sky Gates Airlines

History

2023: Asset buybacks by Red Wings

On December 11, 2023, Red Wings announced the launch of the freight direction. It will develop on the basis of the assets of the absorbed carrier Sky Gates Airlines.

The cargo aircraft fleet will be based on domestic models, including those that have undergone restoration procedures at the plants of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC). The first commercial flight of the modernized Il-96-400T with a cargo of consumer goods (TNP) took place on December 10, 2023 and landed at the Zhukovsky airport.

Red Wings announces launch of freight direction based on assets of absorbed carrier Sky Gates Airlines

The Sky Gates cargo aircraft fleet includes the Il-76TD and Il-96-400T. Red Wings plans to further expand its cargo fleet with domestic aircraft. Ilyushin Finance and Co., an aircraft owner, which is part of the UAC, is implementing a program to restore the airworthiness of Russian-made cargo and passenger aircraft. Retraining of pilots for flights on the Il-76TD and Il-96-400T will be carried out by experienced test instructors of the Voronezh airline VASO, a subsidiary of the UAC.

Red Wings CEO Yevgeny Solodilin stressed that this new business area is part of a strategic plan to transform Red Wings from a regional carrier into a full-length aviation holding. He also noted that this project contributes to the development of the domestic aircraft industry and flight school, requiring a systematic approach to the training and retraining of flight personnel for piloting these types of aircraft.

Red Wings became the owner of Sky Gates, which operated in the market in 2016-2022, in August 2023. Prior to that, 100% of the shares in the authorized capital of Sky Gates belonged to Sky Gates Rus LLC, adviser to the general director of PJSC United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) Boris Aleshin (part of the boards of directors of the UAC and its controlled Red Wings).^[1]

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