Transaero professes eagerness to use Russian aircraft, but only if terms are right (280 words)

Published: 12/8/2000

Transaero has reported the first of two new Аirbus-310-300 which the airline is leasing from Airbus took its flight on the 1st of December 2000 Tel Aviv, Frankfurt and Almaty. The company will take delivery of the second aircraft by the summer of 2001 and plans to use the aircraft on its Moscow-London route and on other long haul routes. Transaero have stated that the of the A-310 is complimentary to their planned acquisition of Tu-204s and Tu-214s.The purchase of these aircraft according to Transaero is however, conditional and requires the active participation of the government in the form of guarantees for lease structures. Guarantees that the government is currently reviewing although without a timetable as yet according to comments from government ministers. For Transaero the slow progress on the issue of Russian leases allows it the best of both worlds, customs exemptions on imported aircraft a privilege envied by many Russian carriers, but without the stigma of not buying Russian.

Article ID: 2241