The government of the Yamal Region is putting together plans for acquisition of Antonov An-140-100 50-seat regional turboprops; these will be operated by Yamal airline.

Such plans were shared by the tops of the Yamal Region with the Kommersant newspaper. The local administration has selected the An-140-100 for services inside the Region’s vast lands. These aircraft will be primarily employed on “socially important” routes that are donated by the local administration. They will also be used for expansion of the network of domestic air routes inside the Region.

The government of the Yamal Region further said that newly acquired An-140s will be handed over to Yamal airline, which is 91.5% owned by the local administration.

According to the press service of the Region’s government, “Acquisition of modern aircraft will allow improvement in the quality of services rendered to our passengers; the newly acquired aircraft will replace outdated types”.

In his turn, Vasily Kryuk, Yamal general director, said the An-140-100 will replace Yakovlev Yak-40 tri-jets , Antonov An-24 and An-26 turboprops on the airline’s domestic services. “As of this time, the airline does not operate such modern types as the An-140”, he was quoted as saying.

A handful of Samara-built An-140s operate with Yakutia airline serving another vast-land Region of the Russian Federation.