S7 Airlines’ Airbus A320neo fleet grew to 11 aircraft

S7 is planning to be the first Russian airline to completely replace its narrow-body fleet with NEOs and MAXs by 2024 (SMBC Aviation Capital)

S7 Airlines, Russia’s second biggest carrier, has taken delivery of an Airbus A320neo aircraft powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1127G-JM engines, on lease from SMBC Aviation Capital, bringing to 15 the number of Airbus neo narrow-bodies operated by the airline.

It is the first A320neo to be delivered to S7 as part of an eight aircraft deal, the Japanese-backed lessor has disclosed in a statement. The second aircraft is scheduled for delivery in August of this year with the remainder due for delivery through 2020.

The newly delivered aircraft, tail number VP-BWM (MSN 8852), is configured with eight seats in business class and 156 in economy (typical layout for all aircraft of type in S7 fleet) and was ferried on April 25 from the Airbus delivery centre at Hamburg, Germany to Novosibirsk, the airline base, in Russia.

The aircraft is a handy and timely addition to the fleet of the fast-growing airline, which saw traffic grow by 16.9 per cent in March, and especially given the fact that it has been forced to indefinitely ground its two newest Boeing 737MAXs.

S7 Group is planning to be the first Russian airline to completely replace its narrow-body fleet with latest-generation Airbus and Boeing. The country’s largest private airline is planning to phase out all of its existing A320ceos and Boeing 737NGs by 2024, eventually replacing them with newest-generation A320neos and Boeing 737MAXs.

S7 Group consists of two airlines operating under S7 Airlines – Sibir and Globus. Of the group’s collective 98-strong fleet, 17 are Embraer E170 regional jets and 81 are narrow-bodies, including 11 re-engined A320neos, four A321neos, two Boeing 737MAX-8s, 18 Airbus A319s, 18 Airbus A320s, seven Airbus A321s and 21 Boeing 737-800s.