newstodate.aero
Feb 06, 2014 (newstodate): April 2014 will reportedly see the last commercial IL-96 flights by Aeroflot.
The carrier still operates six IL-96 aircraft on certain long-haul routes, but they are now due for retirement and replaced by Boeing 777 and Airbus wide-body aircraft.
The IL-96 aircraft became especially ill-famed in August 2005 when all Aeroflot's aircraft were grounded after detection of manufacturing defects, deficiencies in brakes system and lack of certain documentation.
The IL-96 gained further in discredit as its doors failed to open on one high-profiled state visit by Mr Putin, leaving the president unable to exit the plane.
The carrier still operates six IL-96 aircraft on certain long-haul routes, but they are now due for retirement and replaced by Boeing 777 and Airbus wide-body aircraft.
The IL-96 aircraft became especially ill-famed in August 2005 when all Aeroflot's aircraft were grounded after detection of manufacturing defects, deficiencies in brakes system and lack of certain documentation.
The IL-96 gained further in discredit as its doors failed to open on one high-profiled state visit by Mr Putin, leaving the president unable to exit the plane.