CityJet takes delivery of its first SSJ 100

CityJet expects to start commercial operation of the SSJ 100 in June (Photo by UAC)

Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (SCAC) and SuperJet International (SJI) have delivered the first out of the batch of 15 Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft to CityJet. The Irish airline is the first European operator of the Russian-made regional aircraft. Two more SSJ 100s are expected to be delivered to CityJet before the end of this year.

The aircraft is delivered on operational leasing conditions through RJ Leasing. The deal is financed by VEB, the Russian Bank for Foreign Economic Affairs.

The first SSJ 100 will be ferried to CityJet’s base in Dublin on June 1, CityJet’s chief commercial officer Cathal O’Connell told Russian Aviation Insider. The second aircraft should follow within the same month. CityJet intends to operate the first three aircraft on charter flights to leisure destinations in France and Spain, and for transporting sport teams, O’Connell said.

He also confirmed that the operator is in negotiations with several carriers regarding wet lease of the aircraft, but declined to name the potential customers.

CityJet will be able to start operating SSJ 100 on its regular flights after the aircraft is certified for steep approach landing at London City Airport, the starting point for the majority of the airline’s regular routes. SCAC’s president Ilya Tarasenko told Russian Aviation Insider that the certification to these standards is expected to be completed in 2018. It will require the addition of winglets and certain adjustments to the flight control system. The modified version will enter production after 2019, and later the modification will be offered as retrofit. Until then, CityJet will receive the standard version of the aircraft.

CityJet placed an order for 15 SSJ 100s with an option for 16 more. The aircraft are delivered in 98-seat configuration with the cabin interior designed by the Italian firm Pininfarina.