VIM-Avia faces $20.6 million debt claims after flight termination

VIM-Avia’s lenders and counterparties filed a total of 65 claims against the airline estimated to be worth $20.6 million since the bankrupted carrier suspended its flights on September 25, 2017, RNS news agency informs. Among the main plaintiffs are Domodedovo Commercial Services, which filed $9 million claim against the airline and Russian Avangard Bank, which demands $2 million.

VIM-Avia faced several large debt lawsuits in Russia. Thus, Deposit Insurance Agency of Russia is claiming $1.5 million from the carrier, Rossiyskiy Credit Bank –$1.2 million. Other claimants include Russian private institution of State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom demanding $541 800 from VIM-Avia, SIBIR TECHNICS, claiming $569 320, Airport Blagoveshchensk, claiming $240 800.

Recently it became known that Antalya Airport is keeping the VIM-Avia Boeing 757-200 aircraft at its airfield and will be retaining the plane until the bankrupted carrier pays back its $3 million debt to the Turkish airport.

In September 2017, the Investigative Committee of Russia opened a criminal case on suspicion of embezzlement of passengers’ money by VIM-Avia officials. Overall, the carrier’s debt today is estimated to be worth more than $168 million.

On September 25, 2017, the Federal Air Transport Agency of Russia announced the termination of VIM-Avia’s charter flights due to lack of funds. On November 4, 2017, the airline’s license has been invalidated by the Russian authorities, therefore, the airline is no longer able to resume any services.

On November 24, 2017, the Russian government announced the resignation of Deputy Minister of transport Valery Okulov because of his “transfer to another job.” Earlier, Russian newspaper Kommersant said that the difficult situation with bankrupted VIM-Avia could be a reason for resignation.

Source – AeroTime