Ural Airlines seeks to acquire 38 Irkut MC-21s
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Ural Airlines has filed a request to acquire 38 Irkut MC-21 aircraft, as revealed by the company’s CEO, Sergei Skuratov. These new planes are expected to join the airline’s fleet between 2029 and 2030.
The MC-21, a narrow-body aircraft, is positioned as a direct competitor to the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 in short to medium-haul flights. This development from the Irkut Research and Manufacturing Corporation, part of state-owned Rostec, promises to provide advanced and efficient solutions for Russian air transport.
Sergei Skuratov made it clear that the acquisition of Russian aircraft is an unmissable priority for Ural Airlines. «There are definite plans to acquire Russian aircraft. We have filed a request for 38 MC-21s. The timeline is between 2029 and 2030. We were considering leasing,» the CEO stated.
However, when the press asked about the possibility of the airline considering the incorporation of Tu-214 aircraft, Skuratov dismissed this option, arguing that Ural Airlines is exclusively interested in aircraft with a flight capacity between 6 and 7 hours, making the MC-21 the most suitable plane for their operations.
Betting on Airbus
Ural Airlines also plans to buy back Airbus aircraft in the near future, according to Skuratov. The Russian airline has received authorization from the US government and the European Union to acquire 19 passenger aircraft from the European manufacturer. Currently, the company is finalizing the last details to successfully complete the operation.
«There are plans to buy back Airbus. The deal is now in the decision phase. The US and the EU have authorized us to buy back 19 aircraft. We plan to apply for funds from the Russian Ministry of Transport; these will be long-term credit resources from the Russian Federation,» the CEO of Ural Airlines shared.
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