United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), the parent company of SSJ100 manufacturer Sukhoi Civil Aircraft, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Vnukovo airport business aviation centre, VEB-leasing and the National Reserve Corporation.

The MoU is aimed at realising the SSJ100 corporate airline project; the 56-seater aircraft with business layout is designed to perform ad hoc flights for corporations, sport teams and concert tours.

“Civil production line formation and its promotion in the market are some of the corporation's main priorities,” says UAC president Yury Slyusar. “The niche of corporate charter transportation is attractive from the point of view of its growth potential, and it hasn’t been taken by Russian aircraft yet. The creation of a charter platform with the SSJ100 at its core is another feature of the state policy of supporting manufacturers. We think that the business version of the SSJ100 might be a unique product for the market that would be able to provide the best balance between comfort levels and economic efficiency.”

VEB-leasing director general Artem Dovlatov adds: “Supporting the aviation industry is one of VEB-leasing’s priorities. The MoU will have a positive impact upon the SSJ100 programme, allowing it to become a competitive product and fill another niche. We are glad that together with state institutions, commercial players are showing an interest too. That allows us to feel confident about the prospects for the project.”

“A year and a half of success for Azimuth Airlines has shown high demand for regional transportation in Russia,” says the co-owner of Vnukovo International airport and Azimuth Airlines Vitaly Vantsev. “Vnukovo-3 is the largest business aviation centre in Russia and Eastern Europe with its own developed infrastructure. Our business aviation centre will easily provide comfortable ground and flight handling operations and will suit the airlines working in this kind of transportation segment.”

According to the terms of the MoU, the parties will determine the financial parameters of the project, prepare the deal structure and consider the volume of aircraft procurements and the detailed roadmap of the project.