A UK freight leasing company will introduce the first of at least three Tupolev Tu-204 freighters in November, spearheading Anglo-Russian efforts to boost the fortunes of the Russian twinjet.
AirRep, headquartered at London Gatwick, will take delivery of the first Aviadvigatel PS-90-powered Tu-204-100C in mid-November, with two more following in March and April.
The freighter will be located at AirRep's Manston operating base alongside its existing fleet, which includes a single Antonov An-12 turboprop and three Ilyushin Il-76s.
"We are initially offering the aircraft for wet-lease, and are in discussions for lease contracts," says AirRep. The UK company formed a consortium in June with four Russian firms - Tu-204 manufacturer Aviastar, engine builder Perm, maintenance firm VARZ-100 and operator Aviaservice TU - to market the PS90-powered twinjet to western companies.
It says that it sees the aircraft, with its 13 AAY pallet/25t payload and 3,700km (2,000nm) range, as a direct replacement for the ageing Boeing 727 freighter fleets.
Source: Flight International
