Epress.am News from Armenia
On Apr. 19, the Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company handed over commercial aircraft Sukhoi Superjet 100 to its first customer, Armenian air carrier Armavia, reports Interfax news agency.
A ceremony to mark the occasion took place at Zvartnots Yerevan International Airport. The aircraft is being named after Yuri Gagarin, the world’s first cosmonaut. It is expected that the aircraft’s first flight will probably be to Moscow, on Apr. 20.
As reported earlier, managers of one of Russia’s leading air carriers, Aeroflot, were preparing to ask the government to enforce penalties against Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company for failing to deliver Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft on time.
However, Armavia press secretary Nana Avetisova told Epress.am that their company has had no problems with the company and expects to receive their aircraft on time.
Note, the Superjet 100 is designed to carry up to 98 passengers. Fourteen SSJ-100 airplanes are set to be produced in 2011; 25, in 2012; then, 60–70 per year.