PAUL DUFFY / MOSCOW
Sirocco Aerospace's Rolls-Royce RB-211 powered aircraft will be delivered over two years
Russia has secured its first Tupolev Tu-204 export sale with an agreement to supply China with up to 15 aircraft. The deal was expected to be formally revealed by the Russian and the Chinese governments in St Petersburg on 8 September (Flight International 5-12 June).
The announcement is believed to cover an order for three Tu-204-120s and two -120C freighters plus options on a further 10 aircraft. Although there was no confirmation available, China Southwest and China Northwest are understood to be taking the aircraft.
The Rolls-Royce RB-211-535E4B powered aircraft, for which Sirocco Aerospace has exclusive sales rights, are due to be delivered over the next two years.
Sirocco president Dr Ibrahim Kamel says the deal is the "first partnership between the Russian aviation industry and a Western company to achieve a sale of a quality Russian-made airliner to an international airline".
As part of the agreement, Sirocco, a leasing company set up by Egypt's Karto Aromatic, will be setting up a bonded spares store in China and is placing a CAE supplied Tu-204 simulator in China.
To date, Sirocco has only succeeded in leasing the Aviastar-built type to its partially-owned Air Cairo subsidiary, with the first aircraft being delivered in 1998. The Chinese deal is believed to be a straight sale rather than a lease.
Source: Flight International
