MOSCOW, March 23 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's leading air carrier has signed a letter of intent with U.S. Boeing Corporation on the purchase of freight planes, a senior Aeroflot executive said Thursday.
Igor Desyatnichenko, Aeroflot's deputy general director for route network management and cargo traffic, said the company intended to purchase six MD-11 cargo planes and had already put down a deposit.
"Aircraft deliveries are expected in 2007-2008, and the companies intend to sign a final contract by March 31, 2006," he said, adding that Aeroflot also intends to set up a subsidiary, Aeroflot-Cargo, to handle cargo planes.
The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 is a wide-body aircraft powered by three engines. It is based on the DC-10 but has a stretched fuselage and larger wingspan, and has a range of 7,630 miles.
