Kremlin: Possible loss of last foreign SSJ100 buyer not to hurt image

MOSCOW, Aug 23 (PRIME) -- The Kremlin believes that Mexican airline Interjet’s possible sale of Russia’s Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100) planes does not entail reputational risks for the air industry, spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday, when business daily Vedomosti reported that Interjet plans to sell all or some of its 22 SSJ100 planes due to a dire financial state.

“We would not make such conclusions. You know that this vehicle is more and more used by the local airlines, Aeroflot is the largest operator, other companies also fly these planes. As the number of these vehicles increases, all parameters and characteristics will improve accordingly, this is an absolutely obvious fact,” Peskov said.

Sukhoi Civil Aircraft, the producer of SSJ100 planes, said that Interjet does not plan to return the aircraft.

“We are not talking about abandonment of the SSJ100 aircraft and their return. Partial remarketing of aircraft is being worked on,” a spokesperson for the aircraft producer told PRIME.

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