GTLK to open SSJ100 parts depot in Europe

CityJet is wet-leasing three SSJ100s to Brussels Airlines (Ronald Vermeulen / Wikimedia)

GTLK Europe, a subsidiary of Russian lessor State Transport Leasing Company (GTLK), and international parts supplier OEMServices are planning to open a parts depot in Europe that would serve European operators of Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100) regional airliners.

Russian Aviation Insider learned about the plan from GTLK Europe Director Roman Lyadov at the Paris Air Show. The parties signed a memorandum on cooperation.

Lyadov said his company will finance the depot creation process, while OEMServices will manage the facility. The European partner’s shareholders include Liebherr, Thales, and Zodiac Aerospace.

Even though maintenance is not the main line of business for GTLK Europe, it is important for the company to prevent aircraft-on-ground situations related to the unavailability of parts, which affect customers’ ability to make lease payments on time, Lyadov explained. He added that the memorandum with OEMServices is to be converted into a full-fledged agreement in Q4 2017.

Paris is the likeliest site for the future depot, as OEMServices already has a similar faciltiy there for other types of aircraft.

OEMServices did not provide a reply to Russian Aviation Insider’s inquiry by the time of publication.

Irish LCC CityJet is currently the only European SSJ100 operator. The carrier has already received six out of the 15 Superjets on order. All the airframes are being provided by RJ Leasing. Russian government-owned development bank VEB is financing the deal. CityJet is wet-leasing at least four of its SSJ1100s: three to Brussels Airlines and one to BMI Regional.

GTLK itself is only leasing SSJ100s to Russian airlines at the moment, although in 2015 the company signed a memorandum with Kazakhstan’s SCAT Airlines for 15 of the type.