Russia’s SkyExpress operating nine Boeing 737 Classics seeks a new flagman. Boeing 737 Next Generation and Airbus A320 are the main candidates. 

In September this year it became known that SkyExpress fell under control of the Basic Element belonging to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. Now it considers fleet renewal plans centered on a modern narrow body jetliner. The airline studies various options, including buying or leasing newly built aircraft off assembly line or going to the secondary market for “some airframes with very low flight hours on them, with age of one-two-three years”, according to an airline insider. 

Earlier SkyExpress considered adding more 737 Classics, but these plans fell through after the Russian authorities imposed ban on import of ten-year old and older jets. Now, the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 Next Generation are being considered. The airline says maintenance costs are main factor in the selection criteria.