Herpa Air Via Tupolev TU-154M 1/200 573214

The Bulgarian airline Varna International Airways, better known as Air Via, was founded in 1990 as the country's first private airline, offering flight services for various European tour operators. It was one of the few vacation carriers still using aircraft from the Soviet era and started operations with six Tupolev Tu-154Ms. Together with low hotel prices on the Black Sea coast, Air Via was one of the few assets that the Balkan state had to offer for a long time after the political changes following the fall of the communist government. The holiday destinations of Varna and Burgas enjoyed growing popularity, especially among families with many children in Western Europe, due to their comparatively low prices. Air Via served destinations in Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, as well as Israel and the United Arab Emirates.