The Superjet 100 programme received a shot in the arm at Farnborough with 25 sales, taking the orderbook for Sukhoi's regional jet to 35 aircraft.
Superjet International, the Venice-based 50-50 sales and marketing joint venture between Sukhoi and Alenia, announced a 20-aircraft sale worth $600 million to an undisclosed customer described as a well-established European based operator.
The remaining five are for Swiss-based AMA Asset Management Advisors (Suisse), which will get its aircraft in 2011-12. AMA says its 16 July order is a firm one, for Superjet 100 jetliners in standard passenger cabin configuration and worth $150 million at list prices. Chief executive Francesco Guarnieri says his company is an investor that will distribute its five SSJ100s to five undisclosed airlines in Europe.
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Guarnieri sparked speculation that AMA may be the customer for the other 20 orders, however, saying: "We project we'd [ultimately] deliver five aircraft to each [of the five] airlines, 25 aircraft in total."
He says the extended order could be firmed up after talks over the next two months. And, he adds, AMA has its own technical department helping airline customers maintain their fleets. Its maintenance work is done in Switzerland and northern Italy, so its five airline customers will be able to co-operate on fleet management and minimise any disruption caused by what he describes as inevitable "teething problems" associated with a new type.
Separately, Russian leasing company AviaLizing has signed a "contractual agreement" with Sukhoi for production slots for 24 Superjet 100s, anticipating an order from UTair, to replace 24 long-serving 68-seat Tupolev Tu-134s. The airline says it may double the figure if the Superjet proves its merits in first year of service.
Sukhoi Civil Aircraft president Victor Subbotin says that if UTair selects another type, AviaLizing will have to place its Superjets with another carrier.
All 24 aircraft are in factory standard configuration with 96 seats, built to Superjet 100-95 standard.
Source: Flight International
