Kazakhstani carrier Bek Air signed an
agreement with SCAC at the Farnborough
International Airshow in 2014 for seven
SSJ100s with a 103-seat all-economy
configuration.
In October 2014, Belgium’s VLM signed
a tentative agreement with Ilyushin Finance
to become the European launch operator of
the Long Range variant. The deal covered
two SSJ100-95LRs plus two options and
ten purchase rights with the first aircraft
scheduled for delivery in April this year.
However, delays with EASA certification
of the Long Range variant has forced the
Antwerp-based carrier to postpone the type’s
introduction until the latter part of 2016.
At February 2015’s Aero India in
Bangalore, Nepalese airline Bishwo Airways
signed a letter of intent (LOI) with SCAC.
It is expected an order will be placed
for five SSJ100s in a two-class 93-seat
configuration with the first aircraft to be
delivered in 2017.Three months later the Russia-China
Investment Fund (RCIF), SCAC, Xixian New
Area Administrative Committee and New
Century International Leasing from China
signed a deal to form a leasing company.
Over the next three years, it will purchase up
to 100 Superjets from SCAC in a deal worth
approximately $3bn.
Further orders followed at MAKS-2015
in August, with SCAC and State Transport
Leasing Company (GTLK) agreeing a
contract for 32 SSJ100s. The first aircraft
under the contract will be delivered to
Russian carrier Yamal Airlines. Kazakhstani
operator SCAT Airlines has also agreed
a deal for 15 SSJ100s plus five options
through GTLK, with the agreement signed at
MAKS-2015.
Continuing what has been a good year
for the project, Greenland Express and
CityJet have both selected the SSJ100 for
their fleet renewal programmes. Greenland
Express signed a LOI for five 98-seatexamples on September 29, with deliveries
expected between 2016 and 2018.
The CityJet order covers 15 aircraft
and ten options, all fitted with a 98-seat
single-class layout. The aircraft will replace
the carrier’s Avro RJ85 fleet, with the first
aircraft arriving in March. Four aircraft are
expected to have joined CityJet by the end
of 2016 with the additional 11 following in
2 0 1 7.
CityJet Executive Chairman Pat Byrne
says the carrier will introduce the type
on charter work before launching it on
scheduled services from the carrier’s
London City hub in 2017. SuperJet
International says the necessary certification
for London City operations should be
obtained by the end of the year.DUBAI AIRSHOW 2015
With those deals behind them, SCAC and
SJI presented SSJ100-95B I-PDVY (c/n
95065) at the 2015 Dubai Airshow as they
work towards securing their first orders in
the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
region.
Among those who toured the jet at Dubai
was Sudan Airways, while SCAC officials
spoke of potential sales in Egypt, Iran,
Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Sales forecasts produced by SCAC’s
parent company, United Aircraft Corporation
(UAC) show that aircraft orders in the
MENA region in the 60- to 200-seat market
will exceed 700 airframes between now
and 2034. Having achieved a raft of new
orders and with airframe improvements
in the pipeline, SCAC and SJI are no
doubt confident of securing some of that
business.
With new customers materialising all over
the globe, the Sukhoi Superjet 100 is really
starting to spread its wings.http://www.aviation-news.co.uk 47Above: Russia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs uses SSJ100-95B RF-89151 to transport department
officials. SCAC/Nikolay Krasnov
Bottom: Red Wings received its first SSJ100-95B on January 19 last year. The airline now has a
fleet of five. SCAC/Alexey Petrov42-47_superjet.JR.mfJR.mfJR.mf.indd 47 05/01/2016 17:28