TUI
TUI Russia & CIS will form a joint venture with Surgut-based Kolavia Airline (7K), effective May 1. The new JV, called MetroJet, will operate under the TUI brand and will offer service from Russia to Turkey, Egypt and Spain. Further details on the rebranding will be announced later in the month, the company said.
7K ceased operations in September 2011 following a fatal fire in January 2011 on a Tupolev Tu-154 while the aircraft was on the Surgut taxiway. It has continued to operate as a charter airline with four Airbus A321s.
TUI Airline Management—the fifth largest airline in the region—operates a fleet of 155 aircraft in Europe. Members operate scheduled flights and charter flights to more than 150 destinations worldwide, departing from more than 60 airports in nine European countries. The group includes carriers such as TUIfly in Germany, Thomsonfly in the UK, TUIfly Nordic in Scandinavia and Corsairfly in France.
Source: ATW