Italian carrier Blue Panorama insists it will hold on to its order for Sukhoi Superjet 100s, having cooled on a proposed merger with Alitalia.
Blue Panorama agreed to take 12 of the Russian-built twinjet last year, with deliveries scheduled by the end of 2012.
Chairman Franco Pecci stresses that the carrier is still planning to take the aircraft, although the delivery date has slipped to around the second quarter of 2013.
The airline had been discussing integration with Alitalia, part of a three-way tie-up which also included budget operator Wind Jet.
Pecci says, however, that Blue Panorama has been unable to reach a common position with Alitalia and prospects for a merger have receded.
Blue Panorama would be one of the first customers outside of the former Soviet Union to acquire the Superjet, development and marketing of which has been strongly backed by Italian firm Alenia.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
