MOSCOW, March 22 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's largest air carrier Aeroflot has agreed with Airbus to buy 22 A350 planes, Airbus's Moscow office said Thursday.
"Thanks to Aeroflot's decision, the total number of orders [comprising concluded contracts and pre-contract agreements] for Airbus A350 XWB planes has reached 248 units," the office said in a press release.
Aeroflot will also replenish its air fleet with 10 new A330-200 planes, to be leased by the Russian air carrier.
The company's head first announced the proposed purchase at a news conference a week ago.
The first A-350 Airbuses will be supplied only in 2015, meaning that "Aeroflot will continue to buy A-330 liners from Airbus until then under a combined contract," Valery Okulov said at the time.
He said Aeroflot was planning to buy 10 A-330s in the fourth quarter of 2008, while the airline needed 12 to 15 aircraft.
Aeroflot was established in 1923 and is Russia's largest air carrier, handling both international and domestic flights.
The airline accounts for 39% of the international and 11% of the national air carriage market. The company is also a member of Sky Team, the global air alliance, and has a fleet of 88 aircraft.
