Tuesday 23 April 2013

Superjet-100 to prowl Latin American skies



The Russian Sukhoi Superjet-100project is making up for the image-building losses the airliner has suffered due to a number of accidents. The aircraft maker has upgraded nodes and components to allow claims in a move that’s largely boosted the airliner’s external competitiveness. The Mexican Airline Interjet says it will have bought 20 Superjet-100 airliners by the end of 2014.

According to the Mexican Airline’s CEO Jose Alvarez, the air-carrier will invest more than one billion dollars in its purchases, using loans from Italian, French and Russian banks. The first supplies are due as early as in May this year. The last aircraft of those purchased is to be delivered in December next year.

The acquisition of 20 Russian-made Superjet-100 planes will enable Interjetto fly to as many as 80 new destinations, both at home and abroad, specifically to the United States and Colombia.
The Chief Analyst with the Russian AVIAPORT agency, Oleg Panteleev, feels that the deal to be wrapped up is very interesting and important both to the Russian aircraft-makers and the Mexican air-carrier. Here’s more from Oleg Panteleev.

"Interjet has been quickly growing, so it will need just this kind of an effective regional 100-seater, Oleg Panteleev says. The Russian aircraft performance does meet the Mexican airline’s requirements, but Interjet wants all the aircraft to be delivered on time, and it will expect the Russian plane’s reliability and time on the wing to be in conformity with what the aircraft-maker says they are".

The Superjet-100 airliner will replace the A-320 Airbuses that Russia bought from Europe years ago and that are overage now. Besides, Superjet-100 consumes 15% less fuel. Mexicans will continue purchasing Airbuses, but Superjet-100 airliners seem to perform more efficiently at high-level airports.

Just how efficient the Russian airliner will prove in Mexico will obviously determine the future of the aircraft on the international market. The airliner has suffered a spate of crashes in recent years, which caused potential buyers to think better of their plans to purchase it. Anyway, experts are certain that Superjet-100 will cope with its so-called “childhood diseases” that are typical of all new aircraft, and will eventually prove attractive to many partners. The experts’ opinion is shared by Victor Pryadka, Director-General of the Alliance Company of Avintelaviation technology.

If Russia adheres to the time of delivery, and the operation of the aircraft in Mexico proves successful, more Latin American countries will seek to buy the plane. Although the aircraft market is saturated, Superjet-100 has actually few rivals. South East Asian nations have taken interest in the Russian airliner. But the Sukhoi Company must pursue a correct marketing strategy to turn that interest into actual acquisition contracts. Meanwhile, the company engineers are doing their best to ensure that the contract will be carried out.

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