Red Wings Airlines (WZ, Moscow Domodedovo) is to expand its fleet with the arrival of three Il-96s formerly with Aeroflot (SU, Moscow Sheremetyevo). The Interfax newswire says the quadjets will be used to bolster both passenger and freight capacity on flights to Simferopol in Russian-occupied Crimea. Airlines that have served the controversial resort town have been subjected to hard-hitting European and US sponsored targeted sanctions, chief among them, Dobrolet (QD, Moscow Sheremetyevo).

Russia's Ministry of Industry and Trade intends to equip the carrier with 20 additional leased Russian-built jets, namely ten Tu-204SMs and ten SSJ 100/95s, and to establish Simferopol as a primary operational base paving the way for subsidized flights aimed at attracting greater numbers of Russian tourists.

Moscow will also recapitalize the carrier paving the way for government to take a controlling stake in the airline.