TOULOUSE. Nov 18 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia's major airline Aeroflot signed a contract in Toulouse on Monday to buy eight Airbus A-320 planes. Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov attended the signing ceremony.
In total, Aeroflot will receive 18 planes of the A-320 series, including A-319 and A-320.
Aeroflot is planning to get the first narrow-fuselage plane, an A- 319, in fall 2003, Airbus sources told the press. A-320s will be used for Aeroflot flights to Europe.
Ten of the 18 planes will be leased from the major U.S.-based GESAS leasing company. Eight planes will be bought under the contract signed in Toulouse on Monday.
The European company has obtained an Aeroflot order for 12 A319s and A320s airplanes, Bloomberg reports, referring to an Airbus statement. The contract is valued at USD600m.
Aeroflot will buy eight Airbus planes and lease four via a subsidiary of the U.S. General Electric company.
It will lease six more Airbus planes directly from the GE subsidiary.
Deliveries will begin in late 2003. The planes will have engines manufactured by GFM International, a joint venture between General Electric and the French-based Snecma.
European Aeronautic Defense & Space Co. holds 80% in Airbus stock, while BAE Systems Plc. holds 20%.