Volga-Dnepr has signed a letter of intent with Antonov for seven regional aircraft - four An-140 turboprops and three An-148 regional jets.
The 52-seat An-140s will be delivered in 2003-04, while the 75-seat An-148s will arrive in 2005-06.
Aleksei Isaikin, chairman of the Russian airline and outsize cargo carrier, says the An-140s will replace its ageing fleet of 32-seat Yakovlev Yak-40s. Isaikin adds that the An-148 will be deployed on routes from Moscow.
Volga-Dnepr is negotiating with "several Ukrainian leasing companies" to provide the aircraft on either operating or financial leases. Isaikin says that "Russian and Ukrainian state authorities are negotiating a non-import-tax deal on aircraft produced in the two countries".
Source: Flight International
