Aeroflot airline may soon transfer to its controlled Orenburg Airlines both Boeing 737 aircraft from the fleet of the low-cost airline Dobrolet, which suspended its operations in early August due to sanctions from the European Union, RIA Novosti reports citing a representative of the press service Aeroflot.

The issue of approving the deal for Aeroflot to transfer two Boeing B737-800s to Orenburg Airlines for sublease is included in the agenda for the meeting of the company's board of directors, which will take place on August 25, the agency notes. The planes in question were previously returned by Dobrolet to the parent company, but they do not fit Aeroflot’s business model, the press service representative said.

If the planes are transferred, Dobrolet will only have one SuperJet left to lease, which threatens the low-cost airline with deprivation of its license and a ban on flights. To maintain the charter license that Dobrolet received in the spring, the carrier must have a fleet of three aircraft.

Aeroflot launched Dobrolet in early June. The low-cost airline began its operations with flights from Moscow to Simferopol and back. On August 1, the carrier began flying on the second route - to Volgograd - and opened the sale of tickets to several more destinations. On July 30, the European Union imposed sanctions against Dobrolet, holding it responsible for facilitating the annexation of Crimea. On August 4, less than two months after the start of flights, Dobrolet suspended flights. The airline reported that due to sanctions, European partners refused to cooperate with the Russian low-cost airline.

Aeroflot will transfer two Dobrolet aircraft to Orenburg Airlines