Rostec and Aeroflot signed a contract on the purchase of 50 MC-21 aircraft

CEO of the State Corporation Rostec Sergey Chemezov and CEO of the national airline Aeroflot Vitaly Saveliev signed contract for the purchase of 50 MC-21 aircraft. This reported by Aviation Explorer.

The beginning of aircraft deliveries is planned for the 1st quarter of 2020.

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.”

Recall that on August 17, 2011 at the International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS-2011 THE RUSSIAN TECHNOLOGIES STATE CORPORATION through its subsidiary Aviation Capital Services LLC leasing company, signed a contract with JSC IRKUT Corporation for the 50 MC-21 short/medium range airliners delivery of firm order and 35 airliners - optional.

The contract was signed in the presence of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. The signing ceremony was attended by the general director of THE RUSSIAN TECHNOLOGIES STATE CORPORATION Sergey Chemezov, the president of JSC United Aircraft Corporation Mikhail Pogosyan and the general director of JSC Aeroflot Vitaly Saveliev.

From the customer side the contract was signed by the general director of Aviation Capital Services LLC Roman Pakhomov, from the executive side - by the president of the JSC IRKUT Corporation Alexey Fedorov.

In accordance with the terms of the contract, IRKUT Corporation is to supply Aviation Capital Services LLC with 50 MC-21 airliners, including 35 MC-21-300 and 15 MC-21-200, within the period from 2017 to 2022.

The total contract value at catalogue prices in part of the firm order is 3.8 billion U.S. dollars.

The contract stipulates that the MC-21 airliner on the customer's choice can be equipped with two engines: PD-14, by the JSC United engines Engineering Corporation, or PW1400G of Pratt & Whitney, USA.

Operators of the airliners will be airlines – members of the Aeroflot group, including the airlines transferred to the national carrier by the RUSSIAN TECHNOLOGIES STATE CORPORATION.