Published: 5/22/1998

Aleksandr Kozlov, general director of Samara Airlines, told ConCISe that in July the operator will get a Tu-154-100 airliner from the Samara-based Aviacor factory (contraction from "Aviation Corporation"). This aircraft is the first in the series, representing an improved Tu-154M model. The new aircraft features wider windows, better interior, modern seats, quieter D-30 engines and some minor improvements in aerodynamics and navigational equipment. Kozlov told ConCISe that the deal on the Tu-154-100, worth $15m, is rather complicated. "It is a sort of Russian financial lease agreement", he said, adding that it was achieved with great assistance from the Samara Regional Administration, which agreed to transfer some of the factory's debts to local budgets as a first payment for the Tu-154-100. The rest (some $5m) comes as a long-term loan from the Alpha-bank's regional branch in Samara. This loan will be used for purchasing missing components and equipment for the nearly-completed airplane. The airline will then pay a sort of regular rental fee to the bank and local administration until the cost of the aircraft is covered. Kozlov added that formally all that time the aircraft will be the property of the airline, and will be used as a collateral. The Tu-154-100 is the eighth in Samara Airlines' fleet of D-30-powered Tu-154sIf the plans to merge with Air-Volga materialise, then there will be eleven Tu-154M/-100s in the combined fleet. In the second half of 1997 Samara Airlines purchased its seventh Tu-154M new from Aviacor, also with help from the Samara local authorities. Anatoly Lebedev, chief of transport and communications department of the Samara regional administration, says that the requisite financing was obtained from the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation at an interest rate of 7%, rather low for the Russian banking system. The bank granted a loan for the Administration, which funded the completion of the airframe and handed it over to Samara Airlines. (AL598.1) (VK)  

Article ID: 169