Vladimir Rubtsov, CEO of tour operator Fun&Sun, expressed the opinion that Azur Air, Russia's largest charter carrier, will "manage" the "sinking" situation and address all of Rosaviatsia's concerns. Not all experts share this opinion, but Rubtsov knows better. Fun&Sun is owned by Wildberries, which, just before Azur Air's problems, made an offer to purchase the airline. Apparently, this is an offer you can't refuse. (As a reminder, Senator Suleiman Kerimov and Anton Vaino, Head of the Presidential Administration, are Wildberries' unofficial beneficiaries.)
Azur Air's air operator certificate lists 15 aircraft, of which 12 are currently operational, all of them aging Boeings. Due to sanctions, Boeing maintenance and repairs are virtually impossible, leading to frequent mid-air emergencies on the remaining aircraft since the beginning of 2026. These breakdowns, in turn, trigger flight cancellations, delays, and rescheduling, leading to widespread passenger complaints. In this challenging environment, Wildberries made an offer to purchase the airline to the owners of Azur Air. The marketplace recently acquired the ownership of the tour operator Fun&Sun, and having its own airline certainly wouldn't hurt, especially since Azur Air's summer charter program is already tailored exclusively to Fun&Sun. However, the parties failed to reach a "mutual understanding."
As a result, on March 15, Rosaviatsiya (the Federal Air Transport Agency) restricted Azur Air's air operator certificate due to systemic aircraft maintenance violations identified by Rostransnadzor.
This is likely intended to serve as an additional incentive for Azur Air's owners to return to a "mutual understanding."
