VIM Airlines was founded in October 2002. It was founded by the general director of «Aerofreight» company Viktor Ivanovich Merkulov, whose initials form the abbreviation VIM.
On November 27, VIM Airlines have obtained the operator’s certificate No. 451 for performance of freight and passenger air carriage. The company then operated four Il-62M and four An-12 aircraft, mainly en routes to Asia (Vietnam, China, Thailand), which performed both passenger and freight flights.
In 2004, VIM Airlines has developed and started implementing the large-scale target program for complete replacement and expansion of its company flying stock fleet. In the framework of under this program, twelve comfortable and economically efficient Boeing 757-200 aircraft were purchased and commissioned from the subsidiary of Lufthansa — Condor GmbH specializing on charter flights. On July 16, VIM Airlines performed its first flight on Boeing 757-200 aircraft. After replacement of the flying stock fleet with 12 medium-range Boeings 757-200, VIM Airlines managed to occupy a leading position on all popular charter travel routes (Egypt, Tunisia, Turkey) having considerably pressed other air companies, traditionally operating Il-86 aircraft. In addition, VIM Airlines started the flights on popular travel routes to Western Europe, mainly to Italy and Spain, where charter flights on Il-86 aircraft could not be performed due to existing noise limitations. In November, the flights to Bratsk and Chita were introduced.
In 2015, as part of the next stage of the company re-branding, which began with a change in aircraft livery color "VIM-AVIA" has introduced a new form design of flight attendants. "Magenta" and "gray" brand colors were replaced by bright red and "anthracite" - colors corresponding to new, dynamic company development strategy, conquer of new areas of air transport market, quality improvement of the service level.
In 2015, "VIM-AVIA" has carried about 1 600 000 people. The airline has performed 11 414 flights, of which 10 520 were regular (90%). The number of flights has increased by 868. The airline performed flights to Sochi, Krasnodar, Anapa, Simferopol, Chisinau, Magadan, Pevek, Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, Blagoveshchensk, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Makhachkala, Yerevan, Samarkand, Termez, Karshi, Osh, Namangan, Ferghana, Andijan, Kurgan-Tube, Ganja, Gyumri, Termez, Tenerife, Rimini, Ovda. The flights to cities such as Vladivostok, Magadan, Khabarovsk were resumed. The charter flights were carried out to Spain, Italy, Israel, to the Greek island resorts; also the cooperation with United Nations Organisation has been continued.
In 2015, "VIM-AVIA" has continued to carry out major social projects: the transport of children to places of summer vacation, people with disabilities, groups of sportsmen and creative collectives; subsidized transport of residents of the Far East. They provide transportation of volunteer groups, parents and children within the framework of the project "Flying child" of the fund "Change a Life".
"VIM-AVIA" Aviation Training Center carried out the training of flight personnel of more than 22 courses. For the period January-December 2015 246 members of the flight personnel were trained at Aviation Training Center. The number of flight attendants, passed different types of training, amounted to 552 people, including emergency rescue training.
They are the Russian airline that provides transportation service for passengers on domestic and international routes in accordance with the highest standards and requirements.
Their aircraft are operated by best pilots and serviced by professionals. They use advanced technologies in their operations.
They ensure a high level of safety by means implementation of quality and safety management systems. They take into account all of their passengers wishes, providing quality services at the best prices.