S7 to receive first A320neo in spring

S7 Airlines has placed a firm order for three Airbus A321neos (pictured) and a commitment for two A320neos (Photo by Airbus)

The first re-engined Airbus A320neo is expected to be delivered to the Russian customer, S7 Airlines, by spring of 2017, reported Domodedovo airport, S7’s base in Moscow. S7 has placed a firm order for three A321neos and a commitment for two A320neos in spring of this year. The aircraft will be provided through Air Lease Corporation (ALC).

It is still not known yet how many aircraft the carrier will receive next year, but the new airframes will be used on domestic flights from Moscow, including to Siberian destinations such as Ulan-Ude, Chita, and Yakutsk. There are also plans to open routes from Novosibirsk to Southeast Asia.

The delivery of the new aircraft will afford the carrier the opportunity to phase out its ageing Boeing 767s from its fleet. The lease for these aircraft is up by the end of 2017.

The A321neos that are to be introduced into S7 fleet will have a capacity of 203 seats, with a configuration of eight business class seats and 195 in economy class. The A320neos will carry 164 passengers, with eight in business and 156 in economy. The engine selection, Pratt and Whitney PW1100G or CFM International Leap 1A, is still unknown.

S7 plans to completely change its A320 fleet for the re-engined variants in the next decade. The carrier’s Airbus fleet currently includes 20 A319s and 19 A320s, as well as six A321. There are also currently two Boeing 767s.