As it prepares to take delivery of its first new Airbus A320, Russia's S7 Airlines has set deadlines for the phasing out its two remaining Soviet-built aircraft types.
The carrier (previously called Sibir) has 28 Tupolev Tu-154Ms and nine widebody Ilyushin Il-86s in its fleet, all of which will be retired under its fleet modernisation programme.
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© AirTeamImages.comTupelov Tu-154M - one of the aircraft types to be retired by 2013 |
The Il-86s are due to be retired by 2009 and Tu-154Ms by 2013. The clear-out will effectively leave S7 with an all foreign-built fleet comprising around 70 Airbus and Boeing aircraft in 2013.
The carrier already operates a fleet of 29 secondhand western aircraft - seven leased A310s, 17 A319s and five 737-400/500s.
S7 is about to take the first of four new A320s on lease from International Lease Finance ahead of deliveries beginning next year of 25 A320s ordered directly from Airbus. In 2009 deliveries will begin of 10 737-800s.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
