Трансаэро пополняет свой парк

Transaero Airlines is planning to purchase four more Boeing 777s from Singapore Airlines in 2011 and is increasing its commitment from nine to 12 747-400s, a spokesperson confirmed to ATW.

The SIA 777-300ERs, which will become the first of the type to join UN’s fleet, will accommodate up to 373 passengers in a four-class configuration. They will be used on domestic and international routes.

In April, the Russian airline signed contracts for the acquisition of five 777-200ERs previously operated by SIA and nine ex-Japan Airlines 747-400s as part of its ongoing fleet development and modernization program (ATW Daily News, April 29). All five 777-200s have been delivered and the first ex-JAL 747-400 arrived this week. It is configured in two classes, with 12 seats in business and 509 in economy. The aircraft will be operated on high-capacity routes to leisure destinations.

UN will add 11 747-400s configured with 521 seats in 2011 and 2012. They will be integrated into its fleet on financial leasing contracts. “As we are phasing out our [four] -200s and we notice increasing demand on leisure destinations, we see the need for more 747-400s [compared to April] in this configuration,” the spokesperson said. Its other 747-400s offer a three-class configuration—first, business and economy—with a much lower seat density of 352 seats.

Transaero’s fleet now comprises 59 aircraft, including 14 747s, eight 777s, 12 767s, 22 737s and three Tupolev 214s. It is the only carrier in Russia and the CIS that operates 777 and 747 passenger aircraft.

The carrier is rapidly growing. Traffic for the first three quarters of 2010 increased 40.2% year-over-year to 21.54 billion RPKs while the number of passengers carried rose 32.2% to 5.6 million. It currently serves more than 100 routes in Russia, Europe, Asia, Africa and North and South America and added 18 new routes so far this winter schedule. It will launch a weekly Moscow Domodedovo-Rio de Janeiro flights in January.

Transaero also plans to purchase four Boeing 777-300s next year. Those jetliners offer enhanced ergonomics in a four-class configuration and will be able to accommodate up to 373 passengers. The 777-300s will be operated on both Transaero’s domestic and international routes.