Russia’s regional Saratov Airlines has taken delivery of its first Antonov An-148 aircraft. A second aircraft will be delivered before the end of the year, ATWonline reported.
The aircraft were previously operated by Aeroflot subsidiary, Saint Petersburg-based Rossiya Airlines, which grounded six An-148s in April 2015 because of “decreasing passenger traffic,” the carrier had said. However, ATW understands the An-148 grounding could be because of parent Aeroflot Group’s decision to order and operate Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100) aircraft, which have been placed in the same market niche.
Saratov Airlines’ fleet includes Embraer E-195s as well as Yakovlev Yak-42s. From January-September 2016, the airline carried 390,986, down 6.5% year-over-year.
Irkutsk-based Angara Airline also operates An-148 aircraft. Polet Airlines previously operated two An-148s, but the airline grounded them because of financial difficulties and later lost its air operator’s certificate.
