Red Wings (WZ, Moscow Vnukovo International (VKO)) has indeed been sold by owner, Russian oligarch, Alexander Lebedev, for the symbolic sum of 1 Rouble (USD 0.0318) to GHP Group and businessman Sergey Kuznetsov. According to RIA Novosti, the new owners last week discussed the possibility of boosting the company’s fleet with Tu-204 aircraft with the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade. Deputy minister Yury Slusar was quoted as saying “the ministry expects the new owners will develop the carrier’s existing business model, but will add new features, in which case we are ready to help them." Amongst possible business plan changes are the move to a low-cost carrier model. The airline has not operated since February 4 after Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsia, suspended its air operator’s certificate (AOC) following inspections initiated in the wake of the December 29, 2012 crash of a Red Wings Tu-204 which killed five people.

Red Wings (WZ, Moscow Vnukovo International (VKO)) has been sold by its Russian oligarch owner, Alexander Lebedev, for the symbolic sum of 1 rouble ($0.03). Lebedev confirmed via Twitter that he had indeed offloaded his interest in the carrier to an unnamed group of investors, "because of the fears of the bureaucrats in charge (of the sector)." Rosaviatsiya, the Russian civil aviation agency, grounded Red Wings in early February after preliminary findings by an investigation into the crash of a Red Wings Tu-204-100 (RA-64047 / MSN 64047) at Moscow Vnukovo International (VKO) on December 29 which killed 5 crew, pointed to "defective brakes or a misfiring reverse engine" caused by "numerous violations likely brought about through a lack of adequate financing." Lebedev protested in February that there were no grounds for the decision to stop flights by the airline, which previously served several Russian cities with scheduled flights and international destinations on charter flights using a fleet of eight Tu-204-100s.

Red Wings (WZ, Moscow Vnukovo International (VKO)) has announced that it will suspend all operations from the evening of February 3 as Russia civil aviation authority Rosaviatsia has suspended its operating license. Rosaviatsia has said that it would have suspended Red Wings' license following an investigation into the crash of a Red Wings Tu-204-100 at Moscow Vnukovo International (VKO) on December 29, 2012. According to the authority, the investigation would have revealed financial difficulties at the carrier that would impact the safety of flight operations. Red Wings owner Alexander Lebedev has meanwhile said that the license suspension was "without a reason" suggesting it would be part of a political campaign against him. He said he had no intention to resume operations with Red Wings' fleet of eight Tu-204-100s in the future. The carrier has operated domestic scheduled flights as well as leisure charter services to destinations abroad on behalf of Russian tour operators. Red Wings has arranged tickets with competitors Aeroflot (SU, Moscow Sheremetyevo International (SVO)) and VIM Airlines (NN, Moscow Domodedovo International (DME)) for its passengers booked on future domestic flights.

Transaero Airlines (UN, Moscow Domodedovo International (DME)) has announced that it has decided to temporarily ground its fleet of three Tu-214s until the initial investigation of the accident of Red Wings (WZ, Moscow Vnukovo International (VKO)) Tu-204-100 RA-64047 (MSN 64047) at Moscow Vnukovo International (VKO) on December 29 is completed. Two other Red Wings incidents involving runway overruns in November and December have caused an investigation by the Interstate Aviation Committee into possible brakes malfunctions with the aircraft type.

Orenair (R2, Orenburg (REN)) has retired its single Tu-204-120 RA-64017 (MSN 1450743164017) that is now operated by Red Wings (WZ, Moscow Vnukovo International (VKO)) instead. Orenair was mainly operating the aircraft on charter flights. It currently operates two B737-400s, three B737-500s, 17 B737-800s and two B777-200ERs.