The preliminary deal between Aeroflot and Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (SCAC), the civilian arm of the Flanker military family producer, calls for the purchase of 15 Superjet-100 regional airliners beginning in 2011, in addition to the 30 already scheduled for delivery in 2008-2009.
The deal, which the signatories said would be finalized later this year, adds to the total order portfolio of 61 Superjets, and Sukhoi expects to secure orders for another 40 Superjets this year.
The project received "unlimited" support from VTB banking group May 17, when Sukhoi signed a preliminary leasing agreement with VTB Leasing (VTBL).
"We are not setting financial limits here. We are ready to invest as much as [the project] might require," VTBL CEO Anton Borisevich said, pledging to support the $200-million re-equipment leasing program for the factories, as well as future worldwide sales of finished aircraft.
Aeroflot is a member of SkyTeam, an alliance of 10 international carriers, has 90 aircraft, 93 destinations, and controls 23% of Russian passenger traffic. SCAC's Superjet is a broad international effort that also involves companies such as Snecma Moteurs and Boeing.
