Aeroflot is looking to place an order for 300 Russian narrowbody aircraft
The airline is seeking to increase its fleet of narrowbody aircraft while reducing its dependence on Boeing and Airbus.
Russia’s largest airline is looking to purchase several hundred domestically produced aircraft. The Aeroflot group is already the largest operator of Russian-made jetliners and recently announced plans to raise 185.2 billion roubles ($3 billion) in an emergency share issue.
Sources from the airline, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, indicated that Aeroflot is looking to place a 300-strong order with Russian-owned United Aircraft Corporation. The news comes as Russian carriers increasingly struggle to find parts for Airbus and Boeing aircraft in the country.
About the potential order
Aeroflot is reportedly looking to purchase the upcoming Irkut MC-21 medium-range aircraft jet, which will carry more than 200 passengers when it enters service later this year. The aircraft was initially scheduled to enter service in 2016 but has faced a series of setbacks.
Most recently, ongoing sanctions have required Russia to produce homegrown composite materials, develop radio and intercom equipment, and shift all focus to domestically produced parts and materials, including sourcing new engines for the upcoming line.
The initially scheduled production version MC-21-300 was due to be powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1000G engines. However, in April, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov announced that the new Russian narrowbody flagship project would continue with only the homegrown engine option.
The move means Rossiya Airlines and other carriers must now wait for the MC-21-310, powered by the homegrown Aviadvigatel PD-14, built by the United Engine Corporation (UEC).
The General Director of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), Yuri Sluysar, has previously stated that the company plans to produce at least 36 MC-21 jets by 2025. Production will then increase to 72 aircraft per year.
Additional aircraft to be obtained
Aeroflot is additionally reported to be interested in ordering more of the Sukhoi Superjet 100, Russia’s primary domestic-made passenger jet, which typically seats less than 100 passengers. The new additions will likely go to Rossiya, which operates seventy SSJ100s. Aeroflot Group delegated operations of the type to Rossiya last year, and less than ten remain in the main Aeroflot fleet today.
A new version of the aircraft dubbed the SSJ-NEW is currently in the works, which will utilize almost entirely domestically-produced components. The updated version will be powered by PD-8 engines, as opposed to the current production model, which uses the Powerjet SaM146, resulting from a joint project with French engine maker Safran. The next-generation model is reportedly set to commence type certification for the new version next year, with the first deliveries to airlines taking place in 2024.
The order may also include smaller orders for the Tupolev Tu-214 passenger aircraft, which seats around 200 passengers. Demand for the type has increased in recent months, with the Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, Denis Manturov, confirming earlier this year that state-run aerospace umbrella corporation Rostec was ramping up production of the type in Kazan with aims to deliver 70 of the type by 2030.
The current aircraft and avionics shortage
The Aeroflot fleet at the beginning of 2022 had only ten aircraft out of a total of 187 not manufactured by Airbus or Boeing. Ongoing sanctions prevent the two aerospace giants from supplying spare parts and maintenance services to Russian airlines.
Further complications arrive from the fact over 400 aircraft leased from Western firms are currently grounded in Russia and valued at almost $10 billion. Aeroflot successfully purchased eight Airbus A330 aircraft stranded in Russia from foreign leasing companies earlier this year.
The deal was possible through an exemption to European Union sanctions against Russia that authorizes the execution of an aircraft financial lease as long as it was concluded before February 26, 2022, as long as no payment occurs beyond the aircraft transfer.
A previous order by Aeroflot for Airbus A350-900s remains unfulfilled, with several of the type being acquired by Turkish Airlines as it seeks to meet capacity demand. As they join the carrier’s fleet, several aircraft have been spotted in various shades of livery. simpleflying.com