Russia - Serbia to resume SSJ100 acquisition talks
The Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Yury Borisov, has announced that talks with the Serbian government over the purchase of Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft for Air Serbia would resume this summer, following previous talks in December. According to Mr Borisov, the government is interested in acquiring eight SSJ100s for Air Serbia, under a leasing scheme. "We take into account that a new political cycle is beginning in Serbia. Elections are scheduled for April, then two more months will be required for a new government to be formed, after which negotiations can be resumed”. As EX-YU Aviation News learns, Air Serbia has shown little interest in the aircraft, which is why talks have been elevated to an inter-governmental level.
Sukhoi first approached and pitched the SSJ100 to the Serbian carrier in late 2015. In 2017, the plane manufacturer reiterated it was negotiating with Air Serbia over a potential aircraft order. In December 2019, the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, said his country’s aviation sector was prepared to assist in the renewal of Air Serbia’s fleet. That same month, Serbian aircraft maintenance specialist Jat Tehnika become Europe’s first maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) organisation to win approval for the line and base maintenance of the SSJ100 jet. The company secured EASA Part 145 approval for the type, which covers its Belgrade base and its line stations at other airports.
The Sukhoi Superjet has the capacity to seat between 87 and 108 passengers, depending on cabin layout and seat configuration. 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. Air Serbia itself has not commented on the Russian government’s comments over its interest in acquiring the aircraft. The Serbian carrier is expanding its fleet this summer, with two Airbus A319 jets set to join later this month, while an additional two ATR72 turboprops are expected to arrive in Belgrade in May and are currently undergoing maintenance checks.
Image credit: Cristoph Guler
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