oltre a Transaero anche Aeroflot sembra considerare l'A380
Transaero Airlines considers A380, 747-8 orders
By
Cathy Buyck | August 19, 2011
Transaero Airlines is analyzing possible orders for the Airbus A380 and/or the Boeing 747-8, CEO Olga Pleshakova revealed at the MAKS Airshow in Russia.
“In 2008, Transaero received a commercial proposal from Airbus on the A380,” she said. “Our team has studied it very carefully and we deem it to be quite interesting. Nevertheless, we’ll also consider the Boeing 747-8 as our choice. The final decision will be made closer to the date and it will be based upon deep research of commercial offers, the Russian aviation market situation and airport infrastructure development.”
The A380s/747-8s would be used to replace older 747s and expand the carrier's fleet from 2015 onward, Pleshakova said.
Privately held UN is the largest operator of widebodies in Russia, CIS and Eastern Europe with 17 747s, 777s and 13 767s. A further six 747s are scheduled to be added over the next several months (
ATW Daily News, April 29).
The carrier operates some former Japan Airlines 747-400s with 522 seats. Pleshakova said, “Starting from 2015 we’ll phase out all our classic Boeing 747-300s. After 2020 most of our oldest Boeing 747-400s will be also taken out of operation. To both replace them and further develop our fleet, we plan to acquire additional extra-large aircraft within the period of 2015-2025.”
The carrier deploys a mostly Boeing fleet, but earlier this week signed an MOU with Airbus for eight A320neos plus four options (
ATW Daily News, Aug. 17).
Pleshakova also said that UN backs the idea, announced by United Aircraft Corp. President Mikhail Pogosyan, to launch a new Russian-built, long-haul widebody aircraft. If “it become a success, Transaero will think of acquiring those jetliners as well,” she said.
Earlier this week, Airbus Executive VP-Europe, Asia and the Pacific Christopher Buckley told reporters at MAKS that Aeroflot is interested in the A380, Reuters reported. “We are studying the possibility of Aeroflot's use of the A380,” said Buckley. “This does not mean that we will sell any A380s tomorrow.”
http://atwonline.com/aircraft-engin...ero-airlines-considers-a380-747-8-orders-0818