ST. PETERSBURG, June 8 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's largest air carrier Aeroflot could sign a $2 billion deal with Boeing to buy 22 B-787 Dreamliners at an economic forum in St. Petersburg Saturday, a source close to the negotiations said Friday.
The national carrier has been choosing between Boeing and Airbus, two global rivals, for the delivery of new long-haul aircraft to replenish its outdated fleet. In March, Aeroflot signed a protocol of intent with the European manufacturer to buy 22 A350 jets.
Experts say the planned deal with Boeing, which the Kremlin froze in 2006 amid a chill in relations with Washington, is Russia's response to Europe's refusal to allow Russia greater involvement in running EADS. Russia's state-controlled Vneshtorgbank bank bought an approximate of 5% stake in the aerospace concern for $1 billion last year.
The jetliner's chief designer, Jim Morris, said earlier key components for the B-787 were being designed in Boeing's Moscow center employing 300 Russian engineers, and Russian-supplied titanium would be used in the production.
Russian Kommersant daily reported Thursday Boeing could also sign a deal with Russia's Sukhoi aircraft corporation in St. Petersburg to expand its participation in the Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ) regional jet project to cover after-sales services and personnel training.
The parties involved denied comments on the possible deal. "We cannot confirm or dismiss this information at the moment," Aeroflot Deputy General Director Lev Koshlyakov told Kommersant.
