Industry Aeroflot acquires further 100 Superjet 100 aircraft

Good news for Sukhoi and the United Aircraft Corporation: After media reports about unsatisfied customers of their Superjet 100 in Mexico and Belgium, the Russian aircraft manufacturer has sold a large number of its regional aircraft.

The Russian flag carrier Aeroflot has signed an agreement for the delivery of 100 Superjet 100 aircraft. Under the agreement UAC will deliver 100 Russian-built SSJ100 aircraft to Aeroflot between 2019 and 2026. The aircraft will be configured with 12 seats in business class and 75 seats in economy class. The final contract will be signed after the parties agree on material terms of the transaction and corporate approvals have been obtained.

Yury Slyusar, President of United Aircraft Corporation stated: “We have worked with Aeroflot for many years. As the first and largest operator of SSJ100 aircraft Aeroflot has significantly helped the development of Russia’s aircraft industry. The signing of this new agreement marks the next stage of our cooperation and joint contribution to the development of the aircraft industry and the expansion of regional and international air connections. We are happy to continue working with Russia’s leading airline.”

Aeroflot currently operates a fleet of 49 SSJ100 and is expecting the delivery of its 50^th aircraft in the next weeks. The SkyTeam alliance member airline operates commercial flights with the Russian single-aisle aircraft since 2011. Beside domestic routes, the airliner is used on international routes, for example from Moscow to Dresden, Vilnius, Gothenburg or Sofia.

Beside the 150 Superjet 100, which will be in operation by Aeroflot until 2026, the airline has ordered 50 Irkut MC-21-300. The aircraft, which is designed to compete with the Airbus A320 or Boeing’s B737 made its maiden flight in 2017 and is planned to enter into commercial operations in 2020.

“We have signed the largest aircraft delivery agreement in Aeroflot’s history, under which the Company will receive 100 modern Russian-built SSJ100 aircraft. Including the expected delivery of 50 MC-21, by 2026 Aeroflot will operate 200 Russian-built aircraft. Aeroflot has historically been the largest operator of Russian aircraft and has helped to improve all Russian aircraft models currently in operation,” stated Aeroflot CEO Vitaly Saveliev. 

In December 2017, a first Superjet 100 with new installed saberlets performed its maiden flight. According to Sukhoi, the modified wing end should decrease the fuel consumption by around 3%. Aeroflot and the United Aircraft Corporation have not confirmed, that the new delivered 100 Superjet 100 will have the modification.