18 Oct 2017 11:22

S7 not interested in buying VIM Airlines - Fileva

MOSCOW. Oct 18 (Interfax) - S7 Group, which operates Russian airlines Sibir and Globus, is not interested in buying VIM Airlines, S7 co-owner Natalya Fileva told journalists.

"No, it [VIM Airlines] is not of interest. They don't have assets, they have debt. The planes aren't theirs and they are all very old," she said.

Bratsk Airport, which is a subsidiary of VIM Airlines and has a certificate to operate aircraft, is also of no interest to S7, Fileva said. "I am afraid it would require investment. It is worth some money, but it is not a core business for us," she said.

As earlier reported, S7 is included in the headquarters for managing VIM Airlines flights that was set up by the Transport Ministry after VIM Airlines' financial troubles came to light.

In 2015, Fileva's husband and S7 co-owner Vladislav Filev expressed readiness to acquire a controlling stake in Transaero , but the deal fell through.