Superjet International has begun operations following the appointment of a chairman and a chief executive officer at the Superjet 100 sales and marketing arm’s first board meeting in Venice this morning.
Italy’s Alenia Aeronautica and Sukhoi of Russia formally unveiled the Superjet International joint venture at last month’s MAKS Moscow Air Show. The organisation will have responsibility for certification, marketing and sales of the Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (SCAC) Superjet 100 regional jet in Western markets, and provide after-sales support.
Amedeo Caporaletti has been appointed chairman of Superjet International, while Alessandro Franzoni takes on the role of chief executive.
“Head-quartered in Venice, Superjet International will capitalise on Alenia Aeronautica’s full-fledged infrastructure already available at its owned company Alenia Aeronavali’s site in Venice,” say Sukhoi and Alenia Aeronautica in a joint statement.
“Moscow will be a home for the new joint venture’s first branch and, later on, additional branches will appear in the most relevant markets,” they add.
Alenia, which signed an agreement at the Paris air show in June to acquire 25% plus-one-share of Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (SCAC), has a 51% interest in Superjet International.
The Italian company aims to capitalise on the experience it has gained through its participation in the long-running ATR regional turboprop manufacturing programme, in which it is a 50% shareholder alongside EADS.
Superjet International will sell and market the Superjet family in Europe, the Mediterranean, North and South America, Africa, Oceania and Japan, and will customise aircraft for airlines in these markets, as well as providing technical support.
The venture will also be responsible for the design and development of VIP and cargo versions of the Superjet platform.
SCAC will is responsible for the design and manufacture of the Superjet family, as well as sales and marketing in Russia and the CIS, China, India, the Middle East and South-East Asia.
Sukhoi Holding president Mikhail Pogosyan said at the Moscow show that SCAC holds orders and options for more than 100 Superjets.
The first Superjet is expected to be rolled out before the end of September and fly during October.
Related Flight content
Source: FlightGlobal.com
