JUSTIN WASTNAGE / LONDON & VLADIMIR KARNOZOV / MOSCOW
A recent deal brokered by the German transport ministry to supply Russian airlines with up to 200 secondhand airliners may be delayed following political pressure.
Charter carrier Germania says it feels the deal may be in jeopardy after local reports that the average age of the aircraft is more than 14 years. Under the plan, Germany would supply around 200 used Boeing MD-80s and Fokker 100s drawn from the fleets of Germania and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) as well as extra aircraft from lessor GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS). The intra-governmental deal is proposed as an interim measure to enable Russian airlines to replace ageing Soviet-era Tupolev Tu-134 and Tu-154 jets, until new Russian airliners enter service.
The offer is for the 200 aircraft to be reclassified as "temporary import items" and offered under 24-month leases.
The airlines have been negotiating with Sukhoi Civil Aircraft over their participation in forming the consolidated joint venture to enable commercial launch of the Russian Regional Jet (RRJ). Sukhoi says the idea is "feasible", providing the leased aircraft are returned as soon as the RRJ becomes available.
Source: Flight International
