PAUL DUFFY / MOSCOW
Initial acquisition heralds long-term plan to operate only non-indigenous aircraft
Sibir Airlines is finalising a deal to acquire its first Western-built aircraft as part of a long-term plan to move to an all-Western fleet.
The Novosibirsk-based airline, which carried 1.9 million passengers last year and is Russia's second largest carrier, says it is "close to reaching agreement for the lease of two Airbus A320s expected to enter service towards the end of the year". The aircraft are being acquired from operating lessors Ansett Worldwide and International Lease Finance.
Sibir's fleet comprises a mix of Ilyushin and Tupolev jet airliners, including 10 Il-86s, 32 Tu-154s and two Tu-204s. Due to difficulty in sourcing suitable new-generation Russian airliners, Sibir is expected to acquire more Western aircraft. The airline's long-term fleet plan calls for it to move eventually to a single-type fleet of Western aircraft.
Sibir is among a group of Russian airlines led by Aeroflot lobbying the Russian government for reduced import taxes to enable them to acquire Western airliners. But with the government encouraging airlines to choose indigenous types instead of adding Western aircraft, the subject of tax has not been resolved. Sibir has an urgent need for the aircraft, so the tax issue is not expected to hold up the deal.
The airline has begun work to apply for Joint Aviation Regulations 145 approval, initially for line maintenance, and is in talks with heavy maintenance providers in Western Europe for support and maintenance services. The A320s are likely to be registered in a Joint Aviation Authorities member state.
Source: Flight International
