Russians woo Air Namibia

Russians woo Air Namibia Following a recent courtesy call by Russian deputy prime minister Yuri Trutnev at State House, reports have surfaced that the Russian aeronautical company Sukhoi was in talks to sell three Sukhoi SSJ-100 aircraft to Air Namibia.

Russian news agency Avia.pro reported last week that Sukhoi was in talks to sell three of its recently commissioned SSJ-100 aircraft to Air Namibia, due for delivery in 2018.

According to Avia.pro, negotiations had been entered into for the purchase of the aircraft.

“Information available to Avia.pro [is] that a foreign airline expressed interest in acquiring the three passenger planes Sukhoi SuperJet 100, in view of which is currently under way, and negotiations with the company Sukhoi Civil Aircraft,” the news agency said last week.

“The estimated amount of the contract has not yet been announced, however, it is expected that in the case of the conclusion of agreements between the supplier and the airline, Air Namibia. The aircraft can be delivered to the carrier as early as 2018.”



Sukhoi SSJ-100

According to its manufacturer, the Sukhoi SSJ-100 is a regional jetliner that cruises at a top speed of 870km/h and is powered by two PowerJet SaM146 engines.

The SSJ-1001's maiden flight was in 2008 while its first commercial flight was in 2011 when the airline Armavia took delivery of its SSJ-100.

One SSJ-100 is believed to cost approximately US$35 million.

Notable operators of the SSJ-100 include the biggest Russian airline Aeroflot; CityJet, which was at one stage owned by Air France prior to its union with KLM; and Mexican airline Interjet. There are about 127 SSJ-100s currently in operation.

In the dark

However, Air Namibia spokesperson Twakulilwa Kayofa moved quickly to squash any indications that Air Namibia was in talks with Sukhoi. According to him, that was news to Air Namibia.

Speaking to Namibian Sun at the weekend, he said: “Air Namibia is not in talks with any aircraft manufacturer to procure aircraft at this point in time. The article by the Russian news agency Avia.pro titled 'Air Namibia in talks to acquire Superjets' is factually incorrect. Indeed, it is news to Air Namibia, as we do not have any knowledge of the origin of this statement.”













Added Kayofa: “We are busy investigating the matter, to ensure that it does not cause any confusion. Air Namibia would like to inform the Namibian public and all relevant stakeholders that the national airline operates in a highly regulated industry and we remain committed to deliver on our mandate.”

Air Namibia's fleet currently consists of two Airbus A330-200s, which it uses to service its Frankfurt and Luanda routes, four Airbus A319-100s, which it uses on its regional routes, and four Embraer ERJ 135s, which it uses domestically.



Fleet history

Air Namibia had in the past owned a Boeing 747-400 combi which it sold in 2004, two Airbus A340-300s. which it has replaced with two new leased long-range Airbus A330-200s, a Boeing 737-800, which it used for its regional routes, and the McDonnell Douglas MD-11s.