Tu-214 returns to the sky

From now on, there will be one more airplane in the sky. Red Wings Airlines has received its first TU-214. Starting in February 2024, it will operate flights to Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Israel.

Frequent Flyers tells what exactly has been changed in the aircraft and how it looks now.

This aircraft was manufactured in 2009. At the end of 2017, it was put into storage - that's when the carrier began to acquire Airbus A321s, which are more efficient in terms of economy: fuel consumption is lower (3200 kg/h vs. 3700) and crews are smaller.

After the plane was restored to airworthiness, it flew to Ulyanovsk, where it was repainted. There is no airline name, but a large inscription "Tu-214". The cabin has also been updated - it is a single-class cabin with 194 seats. They are thick and covered, so it will be more comfortable to travel long distances.

Two Tu-204-100s (RA-64043 and RA-64050) are also being restored for Red Wings.

Where are the new Tu-214s? They promised to build three this year, but only one will be produced in time, and that one is for special customers, not for passenger transportation.