Air Serbia considering Superjet, Irkut aircraft order
Air Serbia is considering ordering Russian-made Sukhoi Superjet 100 and Irkut MC-21 aircraft according to the First Deputy Head of the Russian Government Office, Sergei Prikhodko. The Serbian carrier itself has not commented on the matter. According to Mr Prikhodko, the deal would likely include the establishment of an SSJ100 after-sales service centre which would be jointly managed by maintenance company Jat Tehnika and United Aircraft Corporation. Jat Tehnika completed certification to service the type in June in accordance with requirements set out by the European Aviation Safety Agency, which included staff training and acquisition of necessary equipment. "Supplying Russian-made aircraft to Serbia is being discussed in various formats. In particular, Sukhoi is working with the Serbian national carrier Air Serbia to upgrade the airline's fleet by purchasing the Superjet 100 aircraft”, Mr Prikhodko said. He added, “As for the MC-21, this type may be of interest to Air Serbia in the future”.
The Sukhoi Superjet has the capacity to seat between 87 and 108 passengers, depending on cabin layout and seat configuration. The SSJ100 has a single-engine option, the SaM146, manufactured by France's Safran in cooperation with Russia’s United Engines. The Russian manufacturer is already planning a new generation of the regional jet with extended capacity, new wings and new engines, which is expected to appear after 2025. On the other hand, the MC-21, which is in the testing phase and expected to enter commercial service next year, has the capacity to seat between 132 and 211 passengers depending on the cabin layout. The jet has been pitched to airlines as having an operating cost that is 5% to 7% less than Western competitors. Initial aircraft, including those undergoing flight testing, use Pratt and Whitney PW1400G-JM turbofans. However, Irkut would also like to offer Russian-made Aviadvigatel PD-14 turbofan engines.
Sukhoi first approached and pitched the SSJ100 to the Serbian carrier in late 2015. Vladimir Lavrov, the Chief Designer at the Sukhoi Company, said at the time, "It is safe to say that talks with our Serbian colleagues were very successful. We found a few ideas that we will develop jointly and received a number of interesting proposals from our Serbian counterparts". In 2017, the plane maker reiterated it was negotiating with the Serbian carrier over a potential aircraft order. Air Serbia has been on the lookout to replace its regional fleet of six ATR72 turboprops, most of which were delivered new to the carrier's predecessor in 1990. The airline’s part-owner, Etihad Airways, cancelled an order for ten Airbus A320neo aircraft, which were destined for Air Serbia, at the start of the year. Instead, the Serbian Finance Minister said the national carrier would replace its current Airbus A319 and A320 jets between 2022 and 2025.
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