SuperJet for CityJet - RUSSIAN AVIATION

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SuperJet for CityJet

Monday December 26, 2016 14:32 MSK / Mikhail Vakhneev

On May 24 in Venice, took place a solemn ceremony of handing over of the first SSJ 100 aircraft to the Irish airline CityJet in the Superjet International (SJI) customization centre (a joint business of the Russian PJSC Sukhoi Company and the Italian Finmeccanica – Alenia Aermacchi promoting Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircrafts (SSJ 100) in the foreign markets), so the airline could start operating with this aircraft type. The Minister of Industry Denis Manturov, the president of United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) Yury Slyusar, the president of Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company (SCAC) Ilya Tarasenko, the chief executive of Super Jet International (SJI) Nazario Kauchelyo and the CEO of CityJet Pat Byrne participated in the ceremony.

The first SSJ 100 aircraft of CityJet has serial number 95102 and made its first flight last year in December. The cabin layout is 98 seats. The interior was engaged by The Italian design bureau Pininfarina which previously developed an interior for the SSJ 100 aircrafts of the Mexican airline Interjet. In SSJ 100 cabin there are located five seats with long interchair distance 32 inches in the same row. The cabin is equipped with wide chairs and has a large cabin height - more 2 m.

In total CityJet airline which is based in Dublin ordered 15 SSJ100 aircrafts with two options - on 10 and 6 aircrafts. The cost of the agreement with CityJet exceeds $ 1 billion. The CityJet airline, according to the delivery schedule, already received the first three SSJ100 aircrafts in 2016 (the second aircraft with the serial number 95108 was received in two weeks after transfer of the first aircraft, and the third aircraft with the serial-numbered 95111 was received on October 27). The financing of three SSJ100 aircrafts within the deliveries of 2016 is successfully realized with the involvement of Vnesheconombank and Russian export credits insurance agency and investments (EXAR).

The remaining 12 aircrafts the airline will receive in the beginning of 2017. On November 29 Vnesheconombank (VEB), JSC Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company (SCAC) and Superjet International (SJI) signed a Memorandum on cooperation in the field of financing the deliveries of SSJ100 to CityJet airline in 2017. The Memorandum provides financing of the delivery of five aircrafts which will be made by SCAC and customized by SJI. Three new aircrafts for CityJet in the delivery schedule for 2017 already are in production and are going to be transferred in the first half of the next year, the delivery of two more aircrafts is planned in the second half of 2017.

The airline began commercial operation in June. For the first five months SSJ100 in the fleet of CityJet spent more than 1,000 hours in the air and performed more than 740 flights, the aircraft traveled to 60 European airports. CityJet uses SSJ 100 aircrafts on a charter basis, with the possibility of "wet" leasing. Since 2017 the airline plans to put the aircrafts of this type on a regular route network from the London City airport. For this purpose on August 15 JSC Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company received the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certificate granting the right of operation of SSJ 100 on runways up to 30 meters wide.

Besides London City, which is one of the key airports for CityJet, some other European airports, including, Southern Airport (Great Britain) and the airport of Florence (Italy) have the runway about 30 meters wide. EASA certification, besides Europe, applies to other regions of the world.

Chief executive of Super Jet International (SJI) Nazario Cauceglia «It is a very important and milestone event for us. We are very proud of the conclusion of this transaction, as CityJet is the operator with a good reputation and is in the heart of Europe. I am also pleased to see today, Russia Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov. I would like to thank him and all our partners and friends who helped and continued to help us within the SSJ 100 project. This achievement marks the development of SSJ 100 Program in Europe and around the world. We know that more and more new customers pay close attention to our aircraft. These are the clients for whom SSJ100 has a special value and they see serious advantages of the product, as well as our reliable technical support in Europe ".

Denis Manturov, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation: «Dear friends! I am glad to welcome all of you at this ceremony. In total by the end of 2017 according to the scheme of operational leasing 15 SSJ 100 aircrafts will be delivered to our Irish partners. Now an option of 16 aircrafts is considered. The total cost of the transaction can be more than $1 billion. It is an important step in successful promotion of the Russian aircraft in the competitive European market. I am confident that appearance of the credible operator will qualitatively influence the acceptance of the similar decision by other airlines in Europe. It is also important for development of the export potential of the Russian civil aircraft industry. We will continue promoting SSJ 100 both on our traditional markets, and on the new one. Given all the interest in this aircraft, we can say that there are interested in almost all continents of the world. And it is not only about sales, but also the complex services to support operation and maintenance».

Filippo Banyato, director of "Aeronautics" division by Finmeccanica company: «I would like to thank Mr Manturov for the fact that he was able to be present today at the ceremony. I congratulate CityJet company management on making this important choice. I know that it was not easy. This is an important decision in terms of the company's development strategy. I am sure that the people working on this aircraft, are going to do everything necessary for the successful operation in the CityJet. I hope that this aircraft will be successful in the European market. I want to mark all those who worked on this aircraft, and also the head of UAC Yuri Slusar».

Yuri Slusar, the president of UAC: «I am glad to welcome everyone on this historic event for the company SCAC. I note that the SSJ 100 aircraft is a project of wide international cooperation, and the majority of the project is made by European companies. Therefore, the delivery of the first aircraft in Europe for us is a milestone event. We are confident that European consumers will be able to evaluate the demand and technological perfection, which we were able to achieve. The CityJet contract became possible only because of the close work of the Russian-Italian team, I want to thank you and I want to express my gratitude to the Russian side. I want to thank colleagues from CityJet for the interest. We are confident that the SSJ 100 is the most advanced and cost-effective aircraft in its class.»

Ilya Tarasenko, the president of SCAC: «Development of the cooperation with CityJet visually testifies the demand for the Sukhoi SuperJet 100 aircraft, an excellent aircraft for both consumers and operators. Thanks to the outstanding characteristics of operational efficiency and reliability the aircraft demonstrated its advantages over its competitors. We strongly believe that the SSJ100 is going to help CityJet with bringing their business strategy on a new height in the European aviation market».

Pat Byrne, the CEO of CityJet: «The delivery of our first SSJ100 is an important milestone for CityJet, as it marks the start of our program of fleet renewal. It's a great aircraft, we can’t wait to introduce it to our customers in the coming years, so they were able to appreciate its high level of comfort and efficiency».

CityJet is buying SSJ 100 aircrafts as a replacement of the exploited Now Park Avro RJ85 (the medium-range passenger aircraft, 95 seats, intended for regional airlines, designed by the British firm the Avro, which is included into British Aerosoace company at present), making flights across Europe, including of London City airport, and also for the development of its route network.

In addition, CityJet airline signed an agreement SuperCare on after-sales service of the new fleet of SSJ 100 aircrafts for twelve years. Aircrafts of the Irish carrier will be served by the SJI company within the specially formulated program of after-sale services for CityJet, since the moment of input of aircrafts in operation. Also the flight crews of CityJet will be trained on piloting SSJ100 on full-flight simulators in the training centre Venice by the end of the year.

CityJet is the Irish regional airline founded in 1993 with headquarters in Dublin. It has its own route network, mainly performing flights from London City Airport. In addition, CityJet provides services of "wet leasing" (lease of aircrafts with crew) to European airlines-customers and also is a charter flights operator. The employed staff consists of 670 people based in Finland, France, Ireland, Sweden and the United Kingdom. SSJ100 will join the current fleet of CityJet, at the moment consisting of 18 Avro RJ85 aircrafts and 8 Bombardier CRJ900.