Aeroflot to lease three Airbus A321neo aircraft

Russian flag-carrier has issued a tender to select a supplier for three Airbus A321s (Airbus)

Russia’s flag carrier Aeroflot is planning to lease three Airbus A321neo aircraft on a 12-year term, starting in the summer of next year, according to a filling posted on a Russian procurement website.

It advises lessors to submit their proposals before July 10, with the winner of the tender chosen on July 17. Under the terms of the prospective deal, the first two aircraft should be delivered to Aeroflot in August 2020, with another in September.

The maximum contract value is stated as US$304.2 million, an amount that includes lease payments as well as provisions for maintenance.

Currently, there is not a single A320neo family aircraft in the Aeroflot fleet. In the Russian Federation, the only neo operator is S7 Airlines.

Earlier this year, state-controlled Aeroflot was formally approved by the Russian government to acquire up to 74 unspecified western-built narrow-body aircraft to be delivered in the 2019 to 2023 period, along with 22 long-haul wide-body Airbus A350s.