Jv between Alenia (Finmeccanica) and Sukhoi closes 370 million dollar contract with Blue Panorama

SuperJet International – the joint venture between Alenia Aeronautica (a Finmeccanica company) and Sukhoi Holding – today signed an agreement with the Italian company Blue Panorama Airlines for the sale of 12 Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100). The agreement has an estimated value of approximately 370 million dollars. Aircraft deliveries will start at the end of 2012. The aircraft interiors will be designed by Pininfarina. The Blue Panorama fleet will also be supported by SuperJet International with specific after-sales assistance services. The Superjet 100 is a regional aircraft capable of carrying from 75 to 95 passengers and is proposed as a relatively low-cost alternative to the aircraft produced by the Brazilian Embraer and the Canadian Borbardier. The first Sukhoi Superjet 100 entered service with Armavia airline in April 2011. On 16 June the first SSJ100 joined the fleet of the Russian airline Aeroflot connecting Moscow and St. Petersburg. The Italian-Russian joint venture is also preparing to launch the business version of the aircraft. The two companies announced it during the Le Bourget aeronautical show in Paris. The launch will take place next October in Las Vegas on the occasion of the American convention of the National Business Aviation Association). The SBJ (Superjet Business Jet) version of the Superjet 100 will be available in three configurations: VIP, corporate and government. Among the features of the new version – reads a note – that of having additional fuel tanks in the cargo compartment which will allow the aircraft to cover distances of approximately 4.300 nautical miles, more than double the standard SSJ100 range of 1.645 miles.