"On August 25, 2015, at the International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS-2015, a ceremonial signing of the memorandum about the acquisition of operating leases for fifteen Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft between the airline SCAT and State Transport Leasing Company was held," the press service said in a release.
Moscow-based State Transport Leasing Company (GTLK) provides finance and operating leases to companies in Russia, and is involved in leasing of the aircraft.
According to the press release, during 2014 the SCAT airline chose among three types of vessels with similar range and payload stats. At 98 to 103 passenger seats, the Embraer 170/190, the Sukhoi Superjet 100 and the Bombardier CRJ 1000 were all under consideration.
"As a result, the decision was made in favor of the SSJ 100. The stated characteristics of the SSJ 100 were in no way inferior to competitors, while the purchase of Embraer and Bombardier would further be subject to duties that will significantly increase the cost of the project, especially under the transition of the Republic of Kazakhstan to a free floating national currency exchange rate," the press release said.
The airline expects the arrival of the first SSJ 100 in May 2016. Aircraft with 103 economy-class seats will be used in regular route schedules in Kazakhstan and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Training for technical personnel, flight crew and cabin crew will begin October 2015, and will be carried out jointly with specialists from the Sukhoi Civil Aircraft company.
The SSJ is a twin-engine regional passenger airliner, completing its maiden flight in 2008 and commercially purchased first in 2011.
