S7 Airlines becomes Russia’s first A320neo operator

The carrier received the new airliner at Airbus's Toulouse factory (ATO.ru)

S7 Airlines is the first Russian carrier to have received an Airbus A320neo single-aisle airliner. The delivery ceremony took place on July 21 at the European manufacturer’s factory in Toulouse, France.

The aircraft, which was delivered by Chinese lessor BOC Aviation, is powered by US Pratt&Whitney PW1100G geared turbofans. It has a 166-seat two-class cabin layout, with 166 in coach and eight in business.

The cabin interior of S7’s first A320neo was designed by PriestmanGoode, which built on the carrier’s new “light and modern” corporate brand identity (ATO.ru)

The airliner’s first revenue flight will be from Moscow’s Domodedovo to Novosibirsk’s Tolmachevo. Both airports are major hubs for S7 Airlines.

S7 Airlines has a total of 16 A320neos on firm order. They will replace the airline’s previous-generation A320ceo airliners. The operator has also ordered three roomier Airbus A321neo aircraft. These are to be used in lieu of S7’s current two Boeing 767-300ER widebodies, even though the two types differ substantially in passenger capacity and range. The A321neo seats 216 and flies to up to 6,500 kilometers, whereas for the operator’s B767-300ERs the figures are 252 and 11,070 respectively.

The Federal Air Transport Agency validated the A320neo and A321neo type certificates in early June 2017. The approved versions are equipped with PW1100G and CFM International LEAP-1A engines. The powerplants are the key feature distinguishing A320neo family from the previous generation. The new engines, combined with aerodynamic enhancements to the airframe, provide an additional 15% efficiency. The airliners also have an increased payload capacity, greater range, and lower noise levels.

As of June 30, 2017, Airbus had received orders for 3,695 A320neos, 1,424 A321neos, and 50 A319neos. Russian lessor VEB-Leasing ordered 20 LEAP-1A-powered A320neo family airliners.

Participating in the delivery ceremony were S7 Group Chairman Vladislav Filev (third from right), Airbus Vice-President Eastern Europe and Central Asia Andreas Kramer (second from right), BOC Aviation CEO Robert Martin (third from left), and Pratt&Whitney Client Fleet Services in Russia and the CIS Ron Palmatier (second from left) (ATO.ru)

“S7 Airlines has been continuously renewing its fleet,” says S7 Group Chairman Vladislav Filev. “We are using the newest developments by the world’s leading manufacturers. The renovated family of aircraft will gradually replace all the A320s in our fleet.” (Airbus)

Airbus says the A320neo has the lowest noise level in its class. Its environmental noise levels are 19 dB lower than those required by ICAO Chapter 4, and the noise footprint of departing aircraft is 50% lower than that of the predecessors. (Airbus)

S7’s new airliner seats eight passengers in business class and 158 in coach. The seats are equipped with USB ports and mobile device mounts. (Airbus)

“We hope that the A320neo family will come to constitute the core of the carrier’s fleet in the future,” says John Leahy, Airbus Commercial Aircraft Chief Operating Officer (Airbus)