Third Superjet 100 enters service with Brussels Airlines

Brussels Airlines’ third SSJ 100 entered service with the operator on May 9 (Photo by SuperJet International)

Belgium’s national carrier Brussels Airlines commenced operations of third Russian-built regional aircraft Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ 100) on May 9. Russian Aviation Insider was updated on the course of events by Cathal O’Connell, the CCO of Irish carrier CityJet, which subleases all three aircraft to Brussels Airlines on wet-lease terms.

The third SSJ 100 in the Belgian airline’s fleet (and the fifth for CityJet) is the aircraft with tail number EI-FWE (s.n. 95117). The aircraft was ferried to Brussels directly from Venice where it was customized by Russo-Italian joint venture SuperJet International. According to Flightradar24 the aircraft has already made several flights from Brussels to Berlin, Bologna, Birmingham and Warsaw.

According to O’Connell and a comment received from Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (SCAC, the producer of SSJ 100), two out of three SSJ 100s operated by Brussels Airlines, have been painted to the carrier’s brand livery. One more aircraft in Brussels Airlines’ colors (tail number EI-FWF) is scheduled for delivery before the end of May this year. SCAC earlier said that CityJet will receive five SSJ 100s within 2017.

For Brussels Airlines the Russian-built regional aircraft are a replacement for four-engine Avro RJ100 jets.

CityJet is expected to receive the total of 15 SSJ 100s from SCAC. It also holds an option for 16 more aircraft.