The 70-seat An-140 will be among the candidates vying for selection
The Russian Aviation Consortium (RAC), acting for Vnukovo Airlines, Murmansk Airlines and Tyumen Aviatrans, has invited tenders for the supply of 50 regional airliners in the 30-, 50- and 70-seat categories.
Ilyushin will offer the Il-114 and Antonov its An-140, but it is expected that Aero International (Regional) and Bombardier will also participate. The tender conditions include provision of ground equipment, equipping a maintenance base and providing a training and simulator centre.
RAC chairman Tateros Surinov says that the Russian and CIS market would require 1,750 to 2,500 regional aircraft, so the winner of the tender will be well-placed to benefit from the "huge market".
A nine-member committee, including the chief executives of the three airlines, will consider the tenders. Surinov says that regional routes are served by the Yakovlev Yak-40 and the Antonov An-24, but both are running short of service life.
Source: Flight International
