Iran Still Keen to Buy Sukhoi Superjet-100 Planes: Official
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Despite signing a deal with Airbus to buy 118 planes, Iran is still interested in reaching an agreement with Russia’s Sukhoi for the purchase of Sukhoi Superjet-100 (SSJ-100) passenger planes, an Iranian aviation official said.
"I think we'll see very soon (SSJ-100 planes). Two or three Iranian companies are interested in the Sukhoi and they are aware of the advantages of the Russian airliner," Sputnik quoted an unnamed manager of Iran's Civil Aviation Organization (CAO) as saying on Friday.
The $25-billion deal signed between the Iranian government and France's Airbus that would guarantee the sale of 118 Airbus jets to Tehran won't affect Iran's long-standing interest in the purchase of Russian SSJ-100 planes, the report added.
The Iranian aviation official also said that the SSJ-100 would have high demand in Iran, especially for domestic flights, considering a perfect combination between the plane's engine-class and the number of passengers it can carry onboard.
During the initial stages of cooperation, Iranian companies would probably lease Russian jets to see how the Sukhoi could be best used in Iran, according to Sputnik.
"Our airline companies would like to lease some Sukhoi planes and see how they would recommend themselves in Iran," the Iranian official said.
He added that Russo-Iranian cooperation in the field of civil aviation would provide a basis for future strategic cooperation between the two countries.
The SSJ-100 is a twin-engine regional jet with eight VIP and 108 economic-class seats, developed by Sukhoi in cooperation with several foreign partners. The SSJ-100 is best used for mid-range flights, as the plane's maximum range is between 3,000 km and 4,500 km depending on the model.