Aeroflot, the flag carrier of Russia, once operated a large fleet of Boeing 767 aircraft. But today, they are all gone. Where did they go?

Where did Aeroflot fly their Boeing 767-300 fleet?

At the beginning of the 2000s, Aeroflot decided to swap out its Russian made aircraft and phase in western-built planes. This included A320s for domestic routes, and A330s and Boeing 767s for long haul journeys. The airline at the time said that this is was for fuel savings but we can't ignore the rumor that it was to improve its reputation and safety.

Aeroflot would go on to have 13 Boeing 767 aircraft:

Unlike other aircraft we have covered in this series like 717s or A300s, Boeing 767s are still used today around the world and are very much in demand. Only one Aeroflot 767 has been scrapped with the others still operating passenger routes, freight flights, and even military roles.

Where are the aircraft today?

Of the 13 aircraft that Aeroflot operated, whatever happened to them and where are they today?

The first 767, tail number VP-BWV, started its life flying for EVA Air in 1991. It would serve the Taiwanese carrier until 2005 when it was transferred to Aeroflot and named the Alexander Kuprin. In 2012 it was transferred to Thai Orient Airlines and eventually scrapped in 2013 a year later.

EI-CKD, the next 767, was bought new by Aeroflot in 1994. This aircraft went on quite the journey, transferring to TWA in 1999, then American Airlines, Southern Winds, Euro Atlantic Airways, leased to Air India, and eventually sold to the Chilean Airforce.

EI-CKE, the brother of the previous aircraft was also bought new in 1994. In 2000 it transferred to TWA and then onto American Airlines, before being sold to a leasing company in 2003. And boy it sure got around then, flying for Varig, STP Airways, Sunwing, Cubana, Air Canada, Flynas and then in 2018 was bought by Atlas Air.

VP-BWW didn't start at Aeroflot but at KLM in 1996. It transferred into the Russian carrier in 2006 and rotated out in 2013 for Nordwind Airlines. In 2015 it worked for (and this is a real name) Mega Maldives Airlines before also being bought by Atlas Air.

VP-BWX, the twin of VP-BWW, had the same journey and followed its older brother right to Atlas Air in 2017.

VP-BWT started for Air 2000 in 1999 under the tail number G-OOAL, but moved onto First Choice Airways in 2003. When First Choice was no longer the first choice, the aircraft was transferred to Aeroflot in 2005 and named Anton Tshehov. In 2011, the aircraft was sent to TUI and has been with them since.

VP-BDI also started with Air 2000 but after the Y2K hit, it moved to Aeroflot in 2003 (The airline Air 2000 turned into First Choice in 2003). It was given the name Alexander Pushkin. It was transferred to Nordwind Airlines before moving on to Ikar in 2016.

VP-BAV, VP-BAX, VP-BAY, and VP-BAZ were all delivered to Aeroflot in 1999 and were sold to Transaero Airlines (a fellow Russian carrier) in 2014. When they went bust in 2015, three aircraft went to Atlas and one (VP-BAV) went to Star Freight Airlines.

The last 767 that operated for Aeroflot, VP-BWQ follows a similar path as VP-BDI. Owned originally by Eurofly, it moved to Alitalia before arriving at Aeroflot in 2004. It was given the name Mikhail Lermontov. In 2010 it went onto Nordwind Airlines and then eventually Ikar in 2014.

What do you think? Which Boeing 767 had the best story? Let us know in the comments.