PRESS: Aeroflot to cut fleet first time in 12 years

MOSCOW, Oct 15 (PRIME) -- Russian national flagship carrier Aeroflot plans to reduce its fleet for the first time in 12 years, business daily Vedomosti reported Tuesday citing the company’s documents.

As of the end of 2018, Aeroflot had 253 main aircraft: 39 long-haul and 164 medium-haul (various models of Airbus and Boeing), as well as 50 Russian regional Sukhoi SuperJet 100 planes.

In January–September, the airline’s fleet was reduced by four vessels: Aeroflot received two long-range Boeing 777s, but decommissioned one long-range Airbus 330, four medium-haul Airbus 320/321, and one SSJ100 burnt down on May 5 at the Sheremetyevo airport. By the end of the year, the group also plans to withdraw eight more planes: two A330 planes, two A321 planes, and four A320 planes.

The company does not expect to receive new foreign planes this year, but is to get first 10 SSJ100 out of 100 planes ordered in 2018.

The last reduction of Aeroflot’s fleet was in 2007, when the fleet was cut by five planes to 78.

By 2023, Aeroflot group plans to raise its fleet to 520 planes, the daily said.

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