Russian airline gets ATR-72, eyes Superjet-100

TOULOUSE, April 22 (Itar-Tass) -- The Russian UTair Airlines based in
the northern Khanty-Mansi region said it is planning to get Sukhoi
Superjet-100 aircraft in 2013, but in the meantime received the first ATR
72-500 French-Italian plane on Thursday.
UTair CEO Andrei Martitosov said ATR-72 "is ideally fit to operate at
distances of 500-800 kilometers", but "Russia with its immense space
urgently needs regional aircraft of longer range, such as Superjet-100."
"We plan to receive 24 new Sukhoi aircraft already in 2013," he added.
UTair ordered 20 ATR 72-500 in a contract worth 426 million dollars.
It is a twin-engine turboprop regional airliner with a sitting capacity of
up to 78 passengers.
The Superjet is capable of carrying from 75 to 98 passengers up to a
range of 4400 kilometres. It will replace the ageing UTair's fleet of
Tupolev Tu-134.
The first Superjet was delivered to the Armenian Armavia carrier this
week nearly three years after the jet's maiden flight.
Russia's flag carrier Aeroflot has orders for 40 Superjets and will be
the second airline to receive the aircraft.