Aeroflot ordered 50 MC-21s today from IRKUT. Aeroflot will receive the first jet in the first quarter of 2020, with the full delivery to be completed by 2026. Under the terms of the order, Rostec, the leasing subsidiary of Aviacapital-Service, will supply the 50 MC-21-300s. These aircraft are to be leased for a term of 12 years, with the option of two-year extensions on the lease no more than three times.
RT reports that the first 25 MC-21s delivered to Aeroflot will have Pratt & Whitney PW1400G engines. At this stage, we do not know if the remaining aircraft will be equipped with the PD-14 engines, due to be certified later this year.
Aeroflot plans to use the MC-21s to replace its remaining Soviet-era Yakovlev Yak-42, Tupolev Tu-134, Tupolev Tu-154, and Tupolev Tu-204/214 aircraft. Aeroflot configurations are to carry 169 passengers, with 16 business-class and 153 economy-class seats. The airline will be using the aircraft on domestic and international routes.
From discussions with IRKUT, we expect to see the MC-21 to offer operating costs around 6-7% lower than its competitors. Which is a very interesting and exciting data point, numbers which we are in the process of verifying. Every OEM that has deployed the GTF has seen fuel burn lower than expected and a consequent increase in range. We expect the same to happen with MC-21.
Vitaly Saveliev, Aeroflot CEO, said: “The signing of a firm order for 50 MC-21 aircraft is a landmark event not just for our two companies, but for our country. Russian manufacturers have created the first next-generation passenger aircraft, marking Russia’s return as a global leader in the aviation industry. In today’s geopolitical context we believe it is essential that there is competitive Russian-made technology, and that it is of the highest quality and competitively priced. For this reason, our partnership with Rostec, our largest partner and a shareholder of Aeroflot, is of critical importance.”
Sergey Chemezov, Rostec CEO, said: “This agreement underscores that Russia’s civil aviation industry is making a comeback and taking its place among leading global manufacturers. The MC-21 represents a genuine breakthrough achievement for the aviation industry. The aircraft uses cutting-edge materials and the latest generation of systems, created by leading Russian companies. Elements of the MC-21 that Rostec produces include titanium and composite parts, onboard electronics, chassis components, other systems, and the ‘heart’ of the aircraft – the PD-14 engine. We believe that this engine will be selected by Aeroflot as the primary power plant for the MC-21.”
This is a program to watch. Hopefully, we will see the flight test aircraft Farnborough this year.
