Adria Airways has cancelled plans to add fifteen Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft to its fleet, the first of which were to be delivered this month. In a statement, the Slovenian carrier said, "Over the last few months, Adria Airways has been intensively preparing for the arrival of the jets. While the aircraft type per se still seems very attractive, Adria Airways has not been able to finalise the contractual clauses with the Russian side. There were growing concerns on Adria´s behalf regarding SCAC´s [Sukhoi Civil Aviation Company] commitment to a fair and stable long-term partnership, as well as a lack of common vision of further strategic development of the company". Adria signed a Memorandum of Understanding with SCAC concerning the long-term lease of fifteen SSJ100s last November. Deliveries were to be completed by 2021.
The Russian manufacturer has not commented on Adria's decision. Several weeks ago, the Russian Minister for Industry and Trade, Denis Manturov, said the contract with Adria was complex as it entailed the delivery of both new and formerly utilised SSJ100s, but noted that deliveries would begin in the near future. Sukhoi had already allocated the first of two aircraft for Adria, which were previously operated by CityJet. Furthermore, the Slovenian carrier sent its crew to train for the new jets and registered its own maintenance, repair and overhaul business, named Adria Airways Super MRO aircraft maintenance, which was to be an SSJ100 aircraft Maintenance and Repair Organisation.
Commenting on the decision, Adria's CEO, Holger Kowarsch, said, "We are naturally disappointed that the collaboration with Sukhoi did not reach a successful conclusion, but the partnership was only viable if given objectives set by the strategic business plan were attainable. Unfortunately, in this case, we did not think this was possible". The company added it would continue to focus on its existing business, consisting of four pillars: scheduled flights, charter and cargo flights, as well as its ACMI business. "The structure of the fleet will remain unchanged and Adria will continue to focus on operational reliability and stability with its fleet of existing aircraft types and their proven track record", it concluded.
Comments
What a joke of day would have been! Wow
It was about to become popular in Europe and I was hoping other Eastern European states followed the example. JP could've been the inspiration for this great, Russian project.
Shame shame :(
I only wonder if we should be counting weeks or days from now on... Unfortunately. Sad day(s) for Slovenian aviation indeed.
And don't give me this western plot story. It is bullshit. If so, at list companies from Asia, especially India, China, Pakistan, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and those meter that it is sickly cheap.
So, if something is sickly cheap and it was not sold, than something is very wrong with product.
But don't you think that the reputation of Sukhoi has improved? I mean, why is Russia necessarily a dirty word lately? You see, I am no russofile but I think when something is good, it is good.
Give me 1 good reason why the problematic states where close US allies? Mexico? Belgium? Ireland? Coincidence? Nope.
Sadly, today the Super Jet got involved in politics and guess who's behind them? The "good", old Uncle Sam.
It is more than clear that the US spoke to Brussels and Brussels quickly contacted Ljubljana.
Even though 4K is private, it is still under the same political umbrella.
Oh please Adria. So in the last sentence you want to insinuate that you cancelled the order because Sukhois don't have a proven track record. Yet earlier you say how you analysed the plane and that it is perfect for your operations.
But yes, you can blame it on USA, it's always nice to have somebody to blame.
But SSJ100 turned out to be a bad project, is it so hard to accept this?
Maybe SSJ 2.0 will be better, maybe MC-21 will be great, but this one is not good one. Accept it, count "casualties" and move on.
Translation: Sukhoi did not want to pay €10M to become a stakeholder in JP on top of giving the jets away for free.
They also noted that the owners of Adria Airways will continue to support the further growth of the company. "Based on the fact, that financing the transition to a new aircraft type is no longer needed and also based on a positive-looking business plan a further capital increase is not planned."
Translation: We're broke because the Russians didn't want to give us €10M. Let's ride it out as long as we can and maybe suck out some more money of of this high-revenue (but no profit) company before we liquidate it.
Conclusion: Let's hope the CAA pulls the plug before they suck out more money out of the people and state. Why the people and state? Adria's largest creditors are Petrol d.d. (~30% state-owned, ~20% owned by Slovene nationals - mostly from denationalisation), Slovenia Control (100% state-owned), Fraport Slovenia (holds a government concession for Brnik until 2054, will receive government subsidies from routes).
Source: https://www.delo.si/gospodarstvo/novice/adria-airways-je-odpovedala-narocilo-suhojev-167430.html
https://siol.net/posel-danes/novice/adria-airways-nemci-pozrli-besedo-milijonov-ne-bo-494252
"Po zadnjih podatkih je imela že za več kot 50 milijonov evrov obveznosti, med njimi predvsem lizingov, prek katerih najema floto."
@1656
Yes, sure.