Aeroflot – Russian Airlines has performed the first commercial flight using new Russian regional Sukhoi SuperJet 100 (SSJ100) aircraft. The route was Moscow – St. Petersburg. This flight was the beginning of SSJ100’s commercial operation by the Russian national carrier, the airline reports. AEX.ru
The liner, named after legendary Soviet pilot Mikhail Vodopyanov, has departed from terminal D of Moscow Sheremetyevo airport at 9.10 Moscow time, and landed at St. Petersburg Pulkovo airport at 10.40 Moscow time. Deputy Chairman of the Government of Russian Federation, Sergey Ivanov, Minister of Economic Development of Russia, Elvira Nabiullina and Deputy Minister of Transport, Valery Okulov arrived in St. Petersburg for taking part in 15th International economic forum, have become the first passengers of Sukhoi Superjet 100. And of course CEO of Aeroflot, Vitaly Savelyev and president of UAC, Mikhail Pogosyan, were also among the jet’s first passengers.
Sukhoi SuperJet 100 aircraft (serial number 95008) has been delivered to Aeroflot in accordance with contract between the carrier and VEB-leasing. The delivered jet is able to carry 87 passengers in a comfortable two-class cabin (12 seats in a business-class and 75 - in the economy one. The maximum range is 2,300 km.
Aeroflot has ordered 30 SSJ100s. In addition, the airline plans to acquire 10 more.
Sukhoi SuperJet 100 (RRJ-95) is a short-haul aircraft intended for carrying up to 98 passengers for the distance up to 4400 km – in one-class configuration and -LR version (long range). The jet has received the AR IAC type certificate in February 2011. The acquisition if EASA certificate is planned on 2011. The first serial liner has been delivered to Armenian airline Armavia on April 19th 2011.
«SSJ-100 liners are intended for implementation of one of our main projects – creation of global network airline, said CEO of Aeroflot, Vitaly Savelyev. It will strengthen the positions of Aeroflot at the domestic market. The jet will be operated on routes Moscow – St. Petersburg, Moscow – Kazan, Moscow – Nizhny Novgorod, Moscow – Ufa and Moscow - Samara. Later it will also be used for international flights».
«The first passenger flight of Aeroflot’s SSJ100 is an outstanding event. We will fully support our customer at the stage of putting the jet into operation and provide a quality post-sales support. The jet has already been highly appreciated by pilots, now we are awaiting the passengers’ opinions. I am sure that SSJ100 will become a perfect instrument for development of Aeroflot's regional network», - Mikhail Pogosyan, the president of UAC and CEO of Sukhoi Company, has noted while commenting the delivery of first SSJ100.