MOSCOW. March 2 (Interfax-AVN) - The aircraft fleet of the Atlant-Soyuz air carrier, belonging to the Moscow administration, will be replenished with two Il-96s, six Boeing 737-300s, and six Embraer 120s.
"In the second quarter of 2006 we expect to receive and field six Boeing 737-300 and six Embraer 120s. We will lease the former and procure the latter," Atlant-Soyuz Director General Vladimir Davydov told a news conference in Moscow on Thursday.
In addition to that, according to him, the company will sign a contract on procuring two Il-96-400s. Atlant-Soyuz expects to receive the aircraft from the Voronezh Joint-Stock Aircraft-building Association (VASO) next year. First, they will be employed for charter flights, and then will operate on regular airlines.
Davydov pointed out that the company had been trying to revive the An-124 aircraft, featuring the world's highest lifting capacity. In particular, the proposal concerned aircraft in service with the military transport aviation. The air carrier offers to overhaul and operate the aircraft, and return them to the Air Force in an emergency if necessary. However, the issue is being managed extremely slowly due to red-tape, Davydov said. The aircraft may finally happen to grow obsolete and worn out.
"The longer an aircraft is grounded, the quicker it is aging," Davydov said.
Commenting on the feasibility of procuring Russian Regional Jets (RRJ), Davydov said that no negotiations with the Sukhoi Company were being conducted at the present time.
"We have to develop the company. We will get back to the issue, when we see the real aircraft," Davydov said.
He pointed out that the Boeings to be leased and the Embraer 120s to be procured would be used aircraft. The Boeings are about 19-years old. However, the air carrier plans to operate them for quite a long time, since such operation of such aircraft depends on their state rather than service lives.
"Such aircraft can operate for 30, 40, or even 50 years," Davydov said.
At the same time he noted that in addition to the aircraft, the air carrier also procures corresponding spare parts.
Atlant-Soyuz currently operates four Tu-154Ms, four Il-86s, a Yak-42, and four Il-76TDs.