Paul Duffy/MOSCOW
Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines (ARIA) has emerged as the first potential customer for the Tupolev Tu-334 100-seat regional airliner after signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for 20 aircraft.
The Russian flag carrier wants to acquire the proposed Tu-334-120 variant, which would be re-engined with Rolls-Royce Deutschland BR715 turbofans in place of the Ukrainian-built Progress D-436Ts on the basic version. It is also likely to incorporate Honeywell avionics.
No delivery dates have been specified, but it is understood the hand over of the first aircraft is set for mid-2002.
R-R Deutschland has been expressing interest in supplying engines for the Tu-334 for several years, but progress has been blocked by a lack of certification funding. The engine manufacturer has previously appealed to the German Government to divert some of the financial aid it is providing to Moscow into a certification programme for the Westernised version of the twinjet.
The Dahlewitz-based company, which signed a collaboration agreement with Tupolev in 1997, declines to comment on the Aeroflot MoU.
Aeroflot is in close contact with new Russian leasing company Ilyushin Finance, the chief executive of which, Alexander Roubtsov, has expressed interest in financing a Tu-334 order. Roubtsov says the Russian Government is stepping up funding for the Tu-334 and that another two aircraft are expected to join the flight-test programme "in the near future".
The Tu-334 first flew in February 1999. It will be assembled by RSK MiG in Moscow and Aviant in Kiev, Ukraine.
ARIA plans to use the Tu-334-120s on short-to medium-range routes within the CIS and to Western Europe, replacing 12 Tu-134s and substituting Boeing 737-400s on some routes.
Source: Flight International
