MARY KIRBY / NEW YORK
Carrier hopeful that Russia will loosen aircraft import taxes to allow deal for more Western types to proceed
Russian national carrier Aeroflot plans to acquire a large number of new-generation widebodies, narrowbodies and regional jets once Russia reduces its import taxes.
Within seven years, Aeroflot wants to operate 12 Ilyushin Il-96s and a Western passenger fleet that includes 12-15 Boeing 767-300ERs, 30-35 Airbus A320 family aircraft, and 20-30 regional jets within the 50- to 90-seat range.
The carrier already has on order six Il-96s. Last year it formalised a deal with GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) for 18 new Airbus A320 family aircraft and five more 767-300ERs for a total of nine 767s.
The aircraft will replace Aeroflot's 11 A310s, 10 737-400s and two 777-200ERs, but will fall short of meeting long-term fleet needs.
The GECAS order means Aeroflot has used up its 27 tax exemptions granted by the Russian government for importing aircraft. Aeroflot remains hopeful that Russia will loosen its tax laws so that it can bring in the extra 767-300s, A320s and regional jets that it envisages for its fleet, says Aeroflot fleet planning head Sergei Koltovich.
Under consideration is the purchase of either A330-300s or the Boeing 7E7 if Aeroflot does not renew its 767 leases in 2007 and 2008.
Aeroflot continues to retire its older aircraft. It has already grounded its 13 Ilyushin Il-62s and 15 Il-86s and hopes to form a charter company with the aircraft this year.
Koltovich says: "Aeroflot is eager to consider any reasonable product in the regional aircraft segment. That is why we were looking first into the Antonov An-74-300TK and later into the An-148, as well as into the Russian Regional Jet being developed by Sukhoi and Boeing. Unfortunately, these remain just projects. This is why Aeroflot is interested in western aircraft."
Source: Flight International
