Superjet International has kicked off preparations for the handover of the first Sukhoi Superjet 100 airliner to Western launch operator ItAli Airlines in December 2009 after revealing that it will set up its completion and delivery centre in Venice, Italy.
The joint venture, owned 51% by Alenia Aeronautica and 49% by Sukhoi Holding, will sell the Superjet family in Western markets and provide worldwide in-service support from its headquarters at Alenia Aeronavali's facilities at Venice airport. It will open a second dedicated support facility in Moscow to support Aeroflot's introduction of the Superjet in November 2008.
Superjet International will also lead development of cargo and VIP variants from Alenia's Naples engineering centre.
"The choice of Venice takes into account the leverage we can take from [Alenia's] existing capabilities," says newly appointed chief executive Alessandro Franzoni.
Aircraft for Western customers will be purchased by Superjet International and flown "green" from Sukhoi Civil Aircraft's Komsomolsk final assembly line to Venice for completion and delivery. They may also be equipped with "some different avionics", says Franzoni.
He estimates that Superjet International's sales to Western customers will account for approximately 70% of Superjet-family production.
Although anticipated shrink and stretch versions of the basic 95-seat Superjet 100 are yet to be launched, "as far as marketing is concerned we are presenting the family", says Franzoni.
Current plans call for the shorter, 75-seat variant to be developed first rather than the 110-seat stretch, "but the decision will be taken by the market", he says.
From prospective Western Superjet purchasers, "the two main questions are related to how will we develop the family, and who will be in charge of guaranteeing the logistical support network?" says Franzoni.
Alenia Aeronautica president Giorgio Zappa says there are currently no plans to jointly market the ATR turboprop family alongside the Superjet 100. The Italian company has made no secret of its desire to buy out its fellow 50% ATR shareholder EADS to gain more control of the company, but the latter has so far been unwilling to sell.
Zappa says it is "difficult to talk about the future" of ATR, which has recently enjoyed a new lease of life following the strong revival of the turboprop market, but he stresses that Alenia remains "very happy" with EADS as a partner.
SCAC president Victor Subbotin says the decision to establish Superjet International was taken after Alenia parent Finmeccanica failed to persuade EADS to participate in the programme via ATR.
Alenia signed an agreement at the Paris air show in June to acquire 25% plus-one-share of SCAC, which is designing and manufacturing the Superjet family and will sell the aircraft in Russia and the CIS, China, India, the Middle East and South-East Asia.
The first Superjet is due to be rolled out on 26 September and fly before the end of the year.
Total firm orders stand at 73 (including a yet-to-be-announced commitment for two aircraft) plus 39 options, says Subbotin.
He expects the firm orderbook to grow to 100 by the end of this year, and claims that the Superjet 100 has a list price 15% below that of its closest Embraer-built competitor.
Sukhoi Holding president Mikhail Pogosyan adds that the partners aim to sell around 300 aircraft to Western customers by 2010 through their Superjet International venture.
Source: Flight International
