ARMAVIA CANCELS PURCHASE OF SUPERJET 100 DUE TO FINANCIAL PROBLEMS
Vestnik Kavkaza
Aug 7 2012
Russia
Russian Deputy Minister for Industry and trade Yuri Slyusar said that
the refusal by Armavia to buy Superjet 100 is a result of financial and
economic problems of the Armenian company, Rossiyskaya Gazeta reports.
Armavia was the first company to purchase the jet in April 2011. The
jet for small and medium-range flights is currently being repaired
at the Civil Planes of Sukhoi.
Armavia signed a contract for the purchase of two Superjet 100s,
cancelling the purchase of the second one later. The company explained
that it is a good plane, but Airbus and Boeing planes fly 330-350
hours a month, while Superjet 100 flies only 150 hours. Moreover,
the company had to spend 4 days resolving passing customs procedures
with Russia only to repair the plane for two days at Zhukovsky.
One Sukhoi Superjet 100 crashed in Indonesia on May 9, 2012. It
was being demonstrated to 6 Asian states. 48 people were killed in
the flight.