S7 Airlines to get first Embraers in 2017

S7 plans to deploy its Embraers in Novosibirsk (Photo by Tolmachevo Airport)

The deliveries of regional Embraer EMB170LRs for Russia’s S7 Airlines (Sibir) will start in 2017. The first aircraft will arrive at the new base in Novosibirsk Tolmachevo Airport (OVB) in February, Interfax news agency reports. They will help Russia’s second airline to expand its route network.

The airline expects to receive 10 out of 17 ordered regional jets in 2017. The remaining batch will be joining S7’s fleet within next three years, however, the company emphasizes the deliveries may be speeded up should the need arise.

It is know that the aircraft under consideration are some 12 years old although no information about previous operators is available so far. S7 does not disclose any further details such as terms of delivery or contract cost either.

The coming EMB170LRs will help the Russian operator to expand the route network. Particularly, Tolmachevo’s spring schedule says S7 Airlines will use the type to launch new flights from Novosibirsk to Yekaterinburg, Chelyabinsk, Krasnoyarsk and Chimkent. The company is already performing flights to the last one but is planning to increase the frequencies and then gradually replace its Airbus A320aircraft with Embraers on this route. Besides, from summer on the company starts servicing two more cities from Novosibirsk: Novy Urengoy and Strezhevoi.

S7 Airlines announced its plans to acquire 20 Embraer EMB170LR jets in summer this year. In October 2016 its board of directors approved the lease from an Irish-based company affiliated with GE Capital Aviation Services Limited (GECAS).

The Russian type certificate for Embraer E170/E175 was issued in mid-October, 2016 what made it possible for the airline to actually place the order.

Currently, there are two airlines in Russia with Embraer aircraft experience. Saratov Airlines operates a pair of E195s while Komiaviatrans has five ERJ145LRs in its fleet. The latter has also displayed interest in E175.