Today, in Russia, one of the most popular companies providing air transportation services is VIM Airlines. Reviews of passengers about the work of this organization and the service it provides are quite positive, while they can be read in a fairly large number. But at the same time, many are not sure of the quality of her work and want to get more information about how this company works and whether it is worth using it.
What is this company
VIM-AVIA is a Russian airline, which mainly specializes in scheduled passenger and charter flights. At the moment, it is part of the holding "Russian Sky" together with the company of the same name, and the main base of the organization is located in Domodedovo (Moscow).
It is worth noting that in 2007 the head of the Federal Air Transport Agency, talking about one of the most non-punctual organizations in the country, paid special attention to exactly how VIM-AVIA airline operates. Reviews of passengers at that time were different, as some liked the introduced destinations and various services, while many were not satisfied with the quality of the service received. Since 2011, the company has been included in the list of IOSA operators, thereby automatically confirming its compliance with all applicable IATA carrier safety standards.
Where to fly
At the moment, scheduled flights represent almost 90% of the total passenger traffic carried out by VIM-AVIA. Reviews of passengers regarding the work of this organization are largely positive, although there are some complaints. It should be noted that the regular route network includes more than 30 different large cities around the world, and charter flights fly to the most popular resorts in Asia and Europe, as well as travel within Russia. It is worth noting a separate contribution to the holding of the last Olympic Games in Sochi, since it was VIM-AVIA (Moscow-Sochi) that was involved in the air transportation of participants and guests. Feedback from passengers during the Olympics was mostly positive.
Start
In 2002, VIM Airlines was founded. The staff’s reviews indicate that from the first years the company began to gain momentum quite quickly, making the main bet on providing the highest quality service. The creation of this company at that time was carried out by the director general of Aerofracht company Viktor Ivanovich Merkulov, and his initials, in fact, formed the basis of the name VIM-AVIA.
Only after a year of the company’s existence, the operator’s certificate No. 451 was provided, after which Russian citizens got the opportunity to carry out passenger and cargo flights through VIM Airlines. The reviews of many people indicate that the An-12 and Il-62M aircraft operated at that time were far from being as comfortable as the current Boeings, but at the same time, the quality was not of particular concern. In the predominant majority of cases, all flights of this organization went in the Asian direction, including both freight and passenger traffic.
Park renewal
Since 2004, the company has been developing and launching a large-scale targeted program aimed at maximizing the expansion of its fleet. Within the framework of this program, Lufthansa's subsidiary, Condor GmbH, which mainly specialized in charter flights, sold twelve Boeing 757-200 aircraft, which were much more comfortable and cost-effective compared to those aircraft that the organization disposed at that time.
On July 16 of the same year, the first flight on this aircraft from VIM Airlines took place. Passenger reviews were only positive, and this is not at all surprising, because foreign aircraft exceeded in all respects the previously used domestic counterparts. After the company’s fleet was completely replaced by twelve medium-range Boeings, VIM-AVIA almost immediately became the leading organization in the field of mass charter tourist destinations, which at that time were Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia, and other companies were quite crowded, as traditionally continued to fly on the IL-86. In addition, it is worth noting that the organization began to launch flights to the most popular tourist destinations in Western Europe, and in particular, this concerns Spain and Italy, since charter flights on IL-86 aircraft could not fly there before, as did not comply with established noise restrictions.
New technologies
Since February 2005, the company has opened regular flights to Ufa and Sochi, and to optimize operations in the management of various passenger traffic, from booking tickets to selling, registering and sending passengers, VIM-AVIA begins to implement a package of integrated SITA solutions, which included several products at once:
- reservation system and sales of air transportation;
- distribution and tariff calculation system;
- financial reporting system and automated ticket printing;
- host system for controlling the registration and subsequent dispatch of passengers.
It is also worth noting the fact that on August 10 this year, the Fleet Watch program was introduced, which significantly increased the quality of work, which VIM Airlines (airline) was already famous for. Feedback from many people after the introduction of this technology suggests that flights have become much more convenient and timely. The program itself is the provision of operational management and planning of the aircraft fleet.
Cooperation with the UN
In 2006, the company decided to expand its own fleet further by purchasing four more similar aircraft models from existing ones. It is worth noting that in Eastern Europe the largest operator of this type of aircraft at that time was VIM Airlines (airline). Passenger reviews not only from Russia, but also from many other countries indicated a quality of work comparable to the predominant majority of European organizations. At that time, the United Nations made a positive decision that this company should be included in the list of official carriers authorized to work within the framework of its program.
In the same year, in order to ensure domestic, regional and international transport, an airline of the same name was created in the Republic of Bashkortostan, which is a subsidiary of VIM-AVIA. Feedback from passengers after such an update was only positive, and this is not at all surprising, since the opening of this organization was a significant breakthrough in the field of air transportation in this region.
In 2007, the company ranks first among the largest Russian organizations involved in passenger traffic in the field of charter transportation. At the same time, a large number of regular flights are opened in the direction of Irkutsk, Novy Urengoy, Beloyarsky, Kemerovo and Anapa. The regular route network of this company covers already 17 major cities of the Russian Federation. It is worth noting that the first simulator designed to practice various emergency rescue procedures in the Boeing 757 passenger compartment was acquired by VIM-AVIA for the first time in Russia. Reviews of passengers on this occasion, of course, were also only positive, since this significantly increased the degree of safety for all those on each aircraft.
In 2008, the organization took a direction to increase the volume of traffic that was carried out under the auspices of the United Nations. The organization also begins the active introduction of fully-functioning electronic systems, such as DCS, E-ticketing and others, but at the same time, regular flight programs provided by VIM-AVIA Airlines are being reduced. Reviews of passengers on this occasion were not so positive, since many used similar programs.
The same situation persisted in 2009. The Company does not cease to be one of the leading representatives of the charter transport market, while at the same time expanding cooperation with the UN. It is worth noting that a program was launched this year, according to which regular charter flights were transferred on a regular basis, which was another significant impetus due to which the airline "VIM-AVIA" was popularized. Feedback from passengers regarding the increase in regular charter flights was only positive. In particular, it was decided to add destinations to Tenerife and Rimini, and a fairly large number of new destinations for international flights, such as Lankaran, Ganja, Osh and Anjian, appeared.
Active growth
In 2011, the organization significantly expanded its own passenger flow, which grew by 22.7% compared with those that were present in the same period last year, and the number of flights increased by 29.8%. It is worth noting that the volume of transportation of this company under contracts concluded with the UN rose by 77%, making VIM-AVIA a leader among all carriers accredited by the United Nations, crowding out a fairly large number of its European competitors.
Special attention should be paid to the fact that this year the company received confirmation from IATA regarding the fact that it is now included in the IOSA Operators Register - a specialized act recognizing the complete safety of services in the international and domestic air transportation market carried out by this organization. The quantitative values of flight safety that are used in modern world practice have traditionally begun to be preserved at VIM-AVIA at the level of the leading carriers in this industry.
It is also worth noting that since 2011 new classes of service were introduced - these are Improved Economy and Business Class, and an air transportation program was launched that ran between the European part of Russia, Siberia and the Far East.
In 2013, the VIM-AVIA Aviation Training Center completed the training of flight personnel for more than 25 different courses. In the period from January to December this year, approximately 677 flight crew members underwent full-fledged training at the AAC, and the total number of flight attendants who underwent various types of training totaled approximately 1,655 people, including emergency and rescue training.
This year, the implementation of a program aimed at diversifying and expanding the fleet through the use of various vessels of Western and domestic production continued. Within the framework of this program, a fairly large number of negotiations were held with the largest suppliers of aircraft, as well as domestic and western aircraft manufacturing enterprises. Among other things, around the world there have been many negotiations with lessor companies.
The introduction of new aircraft
Since 2013, it became possible to fly through this company on the popular Airbus 319-111 aircraft today, which represents another stage of implementation, as well as the subsequent replacement of the fleet. It is planned to use new aircraft on existing routes of this company, as well as for the subsequent expansion of regular route maps.
In 2014, the organization took the main direction to increase socially significant traffic, which is one of the priority areas of the organization. VIM-AVIA makes a significant contribution to the air transportation of the Olympic Games, which were held in Sochi, and in both directions it transported almost 22 thousand passengers. Special attention should be paid to the fact that the VIM-AVIA company was engaged in providing flights for both participants and guests of the Paralympics.
One of the most significant events for the work of this organization can be called the fact that a new type of Airbus-319 aircraft was commissioned in it. In the process of implementing the next stage of the expansion program and the subsequent modernization of the fleet, the airline replenished its fleet with four new aircraft. The expansion of the fleet, followed by the introduction of various types of aircraft into the certificate, which differed in layouts and flight characteristics, allowed the organization to raise the total number of flights and also provide its customers with a wider variety of convenient travel routes.
The airline adjusts long-term development plans in accordance with how the external situation is changing. Various projects for the introduction of new aircraft, the implementation period of which is scheduled for the first half of 2015, was suspended before a new trend in air transportation is formed, after which a full-fledged audit of the long-term development plan will be carried out and its implementation will continue. It is worth noting that at this stage, a cost-cutting program is being implemented with the preservation of the required personnel and production potential, as well as maintaining a consistently high level of flight safety.
In 2015, the company began rebranding, which began with a change in the color of aircraft livery, as well as the introduction of a completely new design for the shape of the flight attendants. It was customary to replace the gray and magenta brand colors with anthracite and bright red, which are more consistent with the new dynamic development strategy of this organization, aimed at conquering new market areas, as well as improving the quality of the service provided.
This year, the company does not cease to carry out various large socially significant projects, engaged in the active transportation of children to various places of summer recreation, transportation of people with disabilities, creative and sports teams. In addition, the organization also provided subsidized transportation of residents of the Far East, as well as transportation of groups of volunteers, children and their parents in the process of implementing the “Fly for a Child” project.
Positive reviews
One can find rather conflicting opinions about what service VIM-AVIA provides. Passenger reviews (Moscow-Simferopol and other directions) start from “a very decent organization” to “I will no longer use its services”, but there are several points that can be highlighted by the majority of customers. The positive points are as follows:
- Security. Naturally, safety is a determining factor in the work of any responsible carrier, and passengers have no complaints about how VIM-AVIA works in this regard. Employee reviews also agree with this opinion, because even if there are any technical problems, the organization tries to do everything to quickly provide another vehicle in accordance with international standards.
- Cost. Another undoubted advantage of this organization is the affordable prices for services. There is always the opportunity to purchase tickets urgently, and at the same time at the relatively low price that VIM Airlines offers. Reviews about the company often say that it is much more profitable to purchase tickets through the Internet.
- Goodwill. All questions regarding accommodation can be easily found out, and passengers are provided with not only professional advice, but they can also be held if necessary and help resolve some conflict situations through VIM Airlines. Reviews (Moscow-Simferopol - one of such areas) are periodically met with negative ones, as in some situations the person behaves inappropriately, although similar situations are rare exceptions.
- Baggage allowance. The company provides the ability to carry up to 20 kg of luggage (and in some directions even 30 kg), as well as transport an additional 5 kg in hand luggage.
Negative reviews
Of course, there are unpleasant moments in the work of VIM Airlines. Passenger reviews are negative, and more often they are expressed in the following:
- In the overwhelming majority of cases (90%), negative feedback from passengers is related to the fact that flights can be delayed, and in some situations delays are too large, and people just have to wait. , , «», , .
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On the other hand, employees respond to customer feedback about the poor quality of service on some flights by not being paid a salary for already performed duties, and the quality of the services provided suffers from this.