VLADIMIR KARNOZOV / MOSCOW
US manufacturer wants greater access to commercial market as co-operation between countries expands
Boeing and the US government want greater access to Russia's commercial market, in return for the US manufacturer's expanding co-operation with the country.
According to Boeing president for Russian/CIS programmes Sergei Kravchenko, Boeing has invested $1.3 billion into Russian projects excluding the Sea Launch satellite launcher. The key project in which Boeing is involved is the Sukhoi-led Russian Regional Jet (RRJ) programme. The manufacturer also has a design centre in Moscow which employs over 500 Russian engineers, and recently increased Russia's share of its titanium supplies from 25% to 35%.
The USA's Moscow ambassador Alexander Vershbow says that Boeing's participation in the RRJ will "ensure the quality of the design, and help market it". Further participation is being sought, he says, adding that he hopes that "it will be a two-way street".
As US-Russian co-operation grows, Boeing is lobbying Moscow to open the market to foreign suppliers, and allow it to sell more airliners. Only Aeroflot and Transaero have government permission to acquire Western airliners without paying 20% value added and 20% import taxes that are obligatory for other importers. The latter's permission expires next year, and it is far from certain that it will be renewed.
Siberian carriers KrasAir and Sibir have been seeking to add Western aircraft, but have so far failed to gain a tax waiver. Although they do not object to Aeroflot's exclusive rights as flag carrier, they are demanding "equal rights for all others", and want Transaero's privilege to end.
Source: Flight International
