Russian low-cost carrier Avianova ended all flights Monday and will soon file for bankruptcy, according to a published report.
The airline’s U.S.-based co-owner Indigo Partners, which holds a 49% stake, allegedly pulled funding from the airline, forcing them to cease operations, according a Moscow Times report. This seems to be the culmination of a brouhaha that began in June, when Indigo management was physically removed and barred from Avianova’s Moscow headquarters. Russian oligarch Mikhail Friedman’s Alfa Group owns the 51% majority share of the airline.
Founded in 2009, Avianova is perhaps best known around the world for a commercial it produced in 2010 featuring bikini-clad flight attendants washing one of the airline’s Airbus A320 jets.
Indigo (not related to Indian carrier IndiGo) also co-owns U.S. budget carrier Spirit Airlines.
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