Moscow, 1 February 2018 – Aeroflot will become the largest customer for the latest Russian-built medium-range aircraft, the MC-21. The landmark contract for 50 of the state-of-the-art passenger aircraft will be signed today between Aeroflot and Rostec.
Under the firm order, Rostec leasing subsidiary Aviacapital-Service will supply Aeroflot with 50 MC-21-300 aircraft on operating leases. Aeroflot will thus become the largest Russian leasor of the latest Russian-built aircraft. The leasing payments and reserves for maintenance will total more than USD 5 billion.
The aircraft will be configured for Aeroflot to carry 169 passengers, with 16 business-class and 153 economy-class seats. In the first phase of the contract the aircraft will be delivered with engines produced outside Russia. From the 26th aircraft Aeroflot has the option to receive aircraft with new Russian-built PD-14 engines, which are currently undergoing certification testing.
The first aircraft is scheduled for delivery to Aeroflot in the first quarter of 2020, with the order planned to be completely fulfilled by 2026. Each aircraft will be leased for a term of 12 years, with the option of two-year extensions on the lease no more than three times. Aeroflot plans to operate the aircraft on both domestic and international routes.
Sergey Chemezov, CEO of Rostec, said:
“This agreement underscores that Russia’s civil aviation industry is making a comeback and taking its place among leading global manufacturers. The MC-21 represents a genuine breakthrough achievement for the aviation industry. The aircraft uses cutting-edge materials and the latest generation of systems, created by leading Russian companies. Elements of the MC-21 that Rostec produces include titanium and composite parts, on-board electronics, chassis components, other systems, and the ‘heart’ of the aircraft – the PD-14 engine. We believe that this engine will be selected by Aeroflot as the primary power plant for the MC-21.”
Vitaly Saveliev, CEO of Aeroflot, said:
“The signing of a firm order for 50 MC-21 aircraft is a landmark event not just for our two companies, but for our country. Russian manufacturers have created the first next-generation passenger aircraft, marking Russia’s return as a global leader in the aviation industry. It is noteworthy that the signing of a firm order between Aeroflot and Rostec coincides with a no less significant achievement, namely Aeroflot’s return to the global aviation elite, as one of the top 20 largest airlines in the world. In today’s geopolitical context we believe it is essential that there is competitive Russian-made technology, and that it is of the highest quality and competitively priced. For this reason our partnership with Rostec, our largest partner and a shareholder of Aeroflot, is of critical importance.”
The MC-21 is a medium-haul, narrow-body aircraft produced by Irkut Corporation (part of United Aircraft Corp., UAC) in cooperation with leading Russian manufacturers. Rostec subsidiaries involved in the production of the aircraft were VSMPO-AVISMA, United Engine Corporation, Technodinamika, Concern Radio-Electronic Technologies, and RT-Chemcomposite.
The MC-21 boasts an innovative ergonomic cabin for pilots and improved capabilities thanks to the unique engineering solutions deployed. It is the first aircraft of its type in the world to make use of polymer composites in the construction of the wings. Composites account for more than 30% of the MC-21, which significantly increases the useful load.
The MC-21 will provide passengers with a new level of comfort thanks to the widest fuselage in its class of narrow-body aircraft (at a diameter of 4.06 metres). The cabin has an expanded aisle and tilt-forward stowage bins with expanded capacity. The manufacturer plans to equip Aeroflot’s entire order of MC-21-300s for WiFi service to allow passengers internet access.
About Aeroflot
Aeroflot is Russia’s flagship carrier and a proud member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance. Aeroflot and its partners serve 1,074 destinations in 177 countries worldwide. In 2017, Aeroflot carried 32.8 million passengers (50.1 million passengers as Aeroflot Group including subsidiaries).
Aeroflot became the first Russian airline to be awarded Four Star Airline status by Skytrax in recognition of the high-quality of its customer service. In 2017, Aeroflot was named Best Airline in Eastern Europe for the sixth time at the Skytrax World Airline Awards.
In 2017, Aeroflot was named the most powerful brand in Russia and the world’s strongest airline brand by leading valuation and strategy consultancy Brand Finance. Aeroflot was also named Best Major Airline in Europe by TripAdvisor travellers and recognised as the Favourite International Airline in China at the Flyer Award Ceremony 2017.
Aeroflot operates one of the youngest fleets in the world with 224 aircraft. Aeroflot is based in Moscow, at Sheremetyevo International Airport.
Aeroflot is among the global leaders in aviation safety, with a European Community Safety Assessment of Foreign Aircraft (SAFA) Index, the main globally recognized safety parameter, comparable to global peers.
The first Russian carrier to enter the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) register, renewing its registration for the seventh time in 2017, Aeroflot has successfully passed the IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) and is fully ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2004 compliant.
Find out more at http://www.aeroflot.com/
About Rostec
Rostec Corporation is a Russian corporation that was established in 2007 to facilitate the development, production and export of high-tech industrial products designed for civilian and military applications. The Corporation comprises over 700 organizations that are currently part of eleven holding companies operating in the military-industrial complex and three holding companies working in civilian industry, as well as 80 directly managed organizations. Rostec’s portfolio includes well-known brands such as AVTOVAZ, KAMAZ, Concern Kalashnikov, Russian Helicopters, VSMPO AVISMA, UralVagonZavod, etc. Rostec companies are located in 60 constituent entities of the Russian Federation and supply products to the markets of more than 70 countries. In 2016 the consolidated revenue of Rostec reached 1 trillion 266 billion rubles, while the consolidated net income and EBITDA amounted to 88 and 268 billion rubles respectively. In 2016 the average salary in the Corporation was 44 thousand rubles. According to Rostec’s strategy, the main objective of the Corporation is to ensure that Russia has a technological advantage in highly competitive global markets. Rostec’s key objectives include the introduction of a new techno-economic paradigm and digitalization of Russian economy.