Natalia Fileva (Наталия Валерьевна Филёва) was a Russian entrepreneur and the co-owner and chairman of the board of directors of S7 Airlines, the biggest domestic airline in Russia. In 2018, Fileva was listed by Forbes as Russia’s fourth richest woman. At the time, her wealth was estimated at $600 million. Fileva passed away on 31 March 2019 in a plane crash in Frankfurt, Germany. She was 55 years old.
Early Life and Education
Natalia Fileva was born in Novosibirsk, Russia on 27 November 1963. She completed her basic schooling and then enrolled at Novosibirsk State Technical University where she graduated with a degree in radio engineering. Fileva furthered her education at Novosibirsk State University of Economics and Management where she graduated with a degree in production management.
S7 Airlines
In 1997, Natalia and her husband Vladislav bought a majority of shares of Siberia Airlines from the company’s employees. As the economic crisis of 1998 came to an end, the couple became the controlling shareholder of the company and started developing it by absorbing a series of smaller airlines. In 2001, they acquired Vnukovo Airlines and thus entered the Moscow market. Today, S7 Airlines consists of both Siberia Airlines and Globus Airlines. The carrier provides services to over 100 destinations across the globe of which some 73 are located in Russia. The company’s main hub is Domodedovo in Moscow, serving over 10 million passengers every year. At the time of her death, Fileva owned around 64% shares in S7 Airlines.
Other Business Ventures
In 2015, Natalia and Vladislav Fileva began exploring options to acquire majority shares in Transaero, a troubled airline that belonged to Alexander Pleshakov at the time. For unknown reasons, the deal was not concluded. In 2016, the Filevas announced the launch of Charlie Airlines in Cyprus. The couple also ventured into the private space exploration industry.
The “Iron Lady” of the Air Industry
Throughout her career, Natalia Fileva was known for being outspoken in business, particularly about the Russian government’s heavy influence on it. In 2018, she reproached officials for speaking out about ending corruption while wearing expensive suits.
Personal Life
Natalia Fileva was married to Vladislav Fileva who is the co-owner and general director at S7 Airlines. The couple had four children and resided in Moscow until her death in 2019.
Death
On 31 March 2019, Natalia Fileva was traveling with her father in a small Epic LT propeller plane from Cannes, France to Frankfurt, Germany. The plane crashed and exploded in a field on the approach to Frankfurt Egelsbach Airport. All three people aboard were killed, including Fileva, her father Valery Karachev, and the pilot. According to media reports, Fileva was on her way to a medical appointment in Germany when the plane crashed. Tragically, another two people died and three police officers were seriously injured that day as a police vehicle on the way to the crash site crashed into another car near the airport.