Carrier will lose status as Russia's only all-Boeing operator when used Tupolevs arrive
Transaero has signed an agreement to take three used Rolls-Royce RB211-535E4-powered Tupolev Tu-204-120s on five-year operating leases from Sirocco Aerospace.
The narrowbody twinjets - equipped with Rockwell Collins avionics and now in service with Cairo Aviation of Egypt - are due to be handed over in October, November and December. The deal will see Transaero lose its status as Russia's only all-Boeing operator. The private carrier's fleet comprises two 737-300s, two 737-700s, three 767-200s and three 767-300s.
Transaero director Sergei Bykhal says the Tu-204-120s will enter service "as is" in a 208-seat all-economy layout, but later be equipped with business-class sections. "We urgently need more aircraft to cater for continuing growth of solvent demand on the Russian air travel market," says Bykhal.
Transaero already has four Tu-204-300s on order and options for another six, but first delivery has been delayed until next year. The airline carried 860,000 passengers last year, representing a 200% increase over 2002. This year it expects to fly 1.4 million passengers, boosted by the launch of routes to Montreal in Canada, Chicago in the USA and Havana in Cuba. Services to Mexico and Brazil are planned.
Also due to join Transaero's fleet this year are two Boeing 737-700s and two 767-300s, says Transaero chairman Aleksandr Pleshakov. He adds that the airline remains committed to taking the Tu-204-300 because it is "30-35% more cost-effective in operation than similar Boeing and Airbus aircraft with a 150-seat cabin".
Vladivostok Avia is due to become the first operator of the Tu-204-300 in December.
Priced at $27 million, the Tu-204-300 is a shrink variant of the baseline Tu-204-100, but with the same Perm PS-90A engines. Seating capacity is reduced from 210 to 160 passengers, but range rises to 9,250km (5,000nm). Tupolev says that it is "two-thirds" of the way through the planned 130-flight certification programme.
VLADIMIR KARNOZOV / MOSCOW
Source: Flight International
