Olympic modernization

Aeroflot will accelerate the renewal of its fleet with aircraft not yet put into service

The Sochi Olympics could be a watershed moment for the Russian civil aviation industry. The Olympics will force domestic aviation to adapt to modern standards - and, above all, to significantly update its outdated fleet. The task of transportation during the Games was taken over by Aeroflot, which plans to purchase dozens of new aircraft for the Olympics, including dozens of Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ-100) and Boeing 787 Dreamliner. These airliners should become the aviation “face” of the Olympics. Although these aircraft perform completely different functions, they have something in common - their delivery times have been indecently delayed.

On December 15, it became known that Sukhoi Civil Aircraft had finally decided on the time to provide Aeroflot with the SSJ-100. The largest Russian air carrier will begin operating a new Russian medium-haul airliner in March, although the Armenian company Armavia will receive the first aircraft even earlier. In total, the delay in deliveries of SSJ-100 to Aeroflot has already amounted to 2 years and 4 months.

Initially, the SSJ-100 was planned to be transferred to Aeroflot back in November 2008. However, this never happened - the plane was delayed in certification. Delivery deadlines were delayed many times. For some time, manufacturers assured that the airliners would arrive at the company before the end of 2010, but this never happened.

In October, the carrier lost patience and threatened GSS with penalties. In addition to repeated delays in delivery, the complaints also concerned simulators and trained pilots. Sukhoi insisted that it would nevertheless put two aircraft into operation in 2010, but did not fulfill its promise. No wonder Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said that “the world will not collapse, and neither will Aeroflot” if the air carrier receives its planes in 2011.

Now the date is more or less clearly defined. However, no one can guarantee that further difficulties will not arise. Although, of course, this wait is unlikely to last until the Olympics.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Photo (c) AFP

In total, Aeroflot ordered 30 Superjet from Sukhoi. It is assumed that by the Games they will all be up and running. The maximum distance these aircraft can fly is about 4,500 kilometers. Thus, they will be able to transport passengers throughout the European part of Russia, as well as Western Siberia up to Krasnoyarsk. In addition, Superjet will be able to operate on European routes during the Olympics, primarily in the east of the continent.

For longer-distance flights during the Olympics, Aeroflot will use the latest Boeing 787 Dreamliner. In fact, it is so new that, like the Superjet, it cannot go into operation. The story of delays in delivery of this aircraft lasts even longer. It was originally planned that airlines would begin receiving it in mid-2008.

A couple of months ago it seemed that the issue had already been resolved, but then problems with the engines arose again, so now they should not be expected before February 2011.

Initially, it was assumed that Aeroflot would purchase 22 Dreamliners - in fact, Boeing already has that many “firm” orders from the Russian airline. But the preliminary agreement was designed for the start of deliveries in 2014, and meanwhile, the official carrier of the Olympics needs to “show the goods face” several months before the start.

Therefore the contract was revised. Aeroflot decided not to give up 22 airliners, but wanted to get four of them urgently. In addition, Russia will receive 16 more Boeing-777s (8 modifications each with 326 and 365 seats). Their delivery period will be from 2012 to 2017, that is, several aircraft will be at the disposal of Aeroflot even before the Sochi Games. “For everything about everything,” Aeroflot will have to pay about $5 billion, taking into account the 20 percent discount that Boeing provided to the Russian company.

Thus, Aeroflot is significantly speeding up the renewal of its fleet. It is difficult to say whether it will be able to fully serve the hundreds of thousands of tourists who, according to the organizers, should arrive in the Olympic capital. For Russian travelers, this is in any case a plus, as it will give them the opportunity to fly on new aircraft much earlier than expected. Another thing is that it is not yet clear how this will affect the tariffs of the largest air carrier.

Dmitry Migunov

Olympic modernization

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