VEB-leasing reportedly orders A320neo narrowbodies

The lessor is believed to be buying 20 new-generation Airbus airliners (Gyrostat / Wikimedia)

Russian lessor VEB-Leasing has placed a firm order for enough LEAP-1A and -1B engines to power 20 Airbus A320neo/A321neo and 22 Boeing 737 MAX narrowbodies, powerplant manufacturer CFM International reports. No further information is available on this order.

Airbus confirmed to Russian Aviation Insider that it had received an order for 20 A320neos from the Russian company.

Boeing has similarly had orders from Russian customers for its 737MAX family, Sergey Kravchenko, president of the Russia & CIS division, told Russian Aviation Insider. 

According to an industry source, the orders were placed with the two manufacturers well in advance of Paris Air Show 2017, when CFM International announced the news.

A CFM release reads that the Airbus aircraft are scheduled for delivery from 2019, and the Boeings from 2018. The future operators are not being disclosed. VEB-Leasing declined to comment.

The only Russian airlines which have announced A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX orders so far are S7 Airlines and its sister company Globus, both subsidiaries of S7 Group.

S7 is expecting delivery of 19 A320neo/A321neo, while Globus has nine Boeing 737 MAX narrowbodies on order.

S7 Airlines declined to comment on the reported VEB-Leasing order.