KHARKIV. June 23 (Interfax-Ukraine) - The Kharkiv State Aircraft Manufacturing Plant signed a USD45m contract to deliver five AN-140 airplanes to Air Libya at the Paris Air Show-2003 on June 20.
The plant's administration told Interfax that the deal also envisions maintenance services and training for the Libyan airline's personnel.
The Kharkiv enterprise is one of the leading aircraft makers in the Commonwealth of Independent States. It produces AN-140 mid- range aircraft capable of carrying 52 passengers.
The aircraft has been certified by the CIS Interstate Aviation Commission and found to be in compliance with European JAR-25 and U.S. FAR-25 aviation standards.
AN-140s are now used by three Ukrainian air carriers, including Odesa Airlines, Aeromost-Kharkiv and Motor-Sich.
Air Libya is a private airline, founded in 1992. It currently operates in Libya, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Chad, providing services for Gulf Oil and Egypt Oil. It carries experts from Germany, Spain, Italy and other European countries who work in the region. The airline's fleet includes nine YAK-40 Codling, four AN-24 Coke, AN-26 Curl and TU- 134B-3 aircraft, and 12 Cessna airplanes.