By Robert Wall
LONDON--JSC Aeroflot, Russia's largest airline, on Thursday said
it would buy 20 more Superjet regional aircraft, providing a boost
to the Russian builder of the plane that has struggled to win
orders.
Aeroflot said the deal, which has a list price value of more
than $700 million, would bring its fleet of Superjet planes to 50
aircraft by 2017.
The airline is taking the planes built by JSC Sukhoi Civil
Aircraft in an 87-seat configuration including 12 business class
seats and the rest in economy, it said.
The planes will service domestic routes at Aeroflot subsidiary
airlines, it said, adding that those local operations saw 23.6%
annual traffic growth in November.
"The new aircraft are expected to make a significant
contribution to the group's future growth," Aeroflot said.
Aeroflot is the largest buyer of the Superjet. Italy's
Finmeccanica SpA is a partner in building the plane and France's
Safran SA is involved in producing its engines.
Write to Robert Wall at robert.wall@wsj.com
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