Superjet 100 delivery to Yamal Airlines taking longer than expected
Russia’s Yamal Airlines will receive the first two Sukhoi Superjet 100s out of the ordered 25, later than expected due to lagging financing. The aircraft, which were scheduled for delivery in November, will arrive in the first quarter of 2016, Yamal’s general director Vassiliy Kryuk told Russian media.
The aircraft are delivered through State Transport Leasing Company (a Russian acronym — GTLK). To power the deal, the lessor has initiated a registered capital increase, but the process is taking longer than anticipated, the airline’s top-manager explained. “However, we continue our work undermined by the agreement with the GTLK. The delay is only caused by the above reason,” he emphasized.
According to Kryuk, Yamal is 80% ready to launch operation of the Russian-built regional aircraft. In particular, flight crews and technical staff have received appropriate training.
GTLK and Yamal signed the leasing contract for 25 SSJ100s at the Moscow air show MAKS-2015. The carrier was planning to start operations of the first five aircraft (later on, two aircraft) before year-end. Delivery of 15 aircraft was slated for 2016, and the remaining eight were due to arrive throughout 2017. All aircraft are configured with 98 seats (8 in business and 90 in economy class).
The carrier’s business-plan suggested that the average monthly flight time per aircraft should be around 300 hours. Yamal was also planning to establish maintenance facilities for the new type in Ufa, Novosibirsk and Krasnoyarsk, Vassiliy Kryuk told Russian Aviation Insider.
He also confirmed that the carrier will receive the aircraft “on special terms” meaning reduced leasing rates. The SSJs will be bases in Tyumen, because “their maintenance at the carrier’s base airport in Salekhard would be too costly.”
Yamal currently ooperate three Boeing 737-400, one 737-500, seven Airbus A320-200, two A321, 10 CRJ200LR and two Let L-410 turboprops. Alongside with introducing the SSJ100, the airline will gradually phase out its Boeing 737CLs. This year the airline returned all of them to their lessors.
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