Sukhoi likely to add fresh orders for SuperJet 100 planes

Zhukovsky, Moscow Region: Russia's Rossiya and Aeroflot-Nord airlines are expected to order a further 24 regional Sukhoi SuperJet 100 jets from Sukhoi Civil Aircraft, the corporation's senior vice president said Thursday. If confirmed, then total confirmed orders for the SuperJet 100, Sukhoi design bureau's maiden effort in the civil commercial sector, would begin to approach 100.

"We are expecting to sign another two contracts for 24 planes," Vladimir Prisyazhnyuk said at an international aviation seminar.

Currently the aircraft is undergoing static tests. The first flight of SuperJet 100 is scheduled for fall 2007, with the first six planes due later this year. Sukhoi, NPO Saturn, Snecma and Boeing are jointly developing the aircraft.

Earlier, on March 20, Sukhoi had said that it would start supplying the first of the SuperJet's to the country's largest air carrier Aeroflot by late 2008. Aeroflot is believed to be considering buying up to 50 of these aircraft.

The Sukhoi SuperJet-100 belongs to a series of RRJ (Russian Regional Jet)-type planes, and will have a seating capacity ranging from 60 to 95. According to industry sources, the RRJ market is estimated at 5,400-5,600 units sold by 2023. If so they would realize around $100 billion in sales.