Russia renews pitch for eight Sukhoi jets for Air Serbia


The Russian Ministry for Industry and Trade has said it has renewed discussions with the Serbian government over the potential acquisition of eight Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft for Air Serbia at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) last week. The Russian Minister for Industry and Trade, Denis Manturov, attended the meeting between Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov and the Serbian Minister without a portfolio, in charge of innovations and technological development, Nenad Popović. "During the meeting, the parties also discussed the deal being worked out on the acquisition of the Superjet aircraft by the Serbian side", the Russian ministry said in a statement. As EX-YU Aviation News learns, Air Serbia has shown little interest in the aircraft, which is why talks have been elevated to an inter-governmental level.

Sukhoi first approached and pitched the SSJ100 to the Serbian carrier in late 2015. In 2017, the plane manufacturer reiterated it was negotiating with Air Serbia over a potential aircraft order. In December 2019, the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, said his country’s aviation sector was prepared to assist in the renewal of Air Serbia’s fleet. That same month, Serbian aircraft maintenance specialist Jat Tehnika become Europe’s first maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) organisation to win approval for the line and base maintenance of the SSJ100 jet. The company secured EASA Part 145 approval for the type, which covers its Belgrade base and its line stations at other airports.

The Sukhoi Superjet has the capacity to seat between 87 and 108 passengers, depending on cabin layout and seat configuration. The Russian manufacturer is planning a new generation of the regional jet with extended capacity, new wings and new engines, which is expected to appear after 2025. Air Serbia itself has not commented on the Russian government’s comments over its interest in acquiring the aircraft. The Serbian carrier added two Airbus A319 jets to its fleet last year but returned one A320 and one ATR72 to the lessor. It also shelved plans to lease additional ATR72s last year with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic and retired three Boeing 737s from its fleet.


Comments

  1. Anonymous09:02

    Hope the government does not force JU to use a plane they don't even want.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous09:02

    Wet Russian dreams.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous08:35

      As a citizen of Serbia I'd rather travel with an Embraer E190 or an Airbus A220. I really hope this SSJ story does not materialize.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:03

    The Russian Jet looks good in Air Serbia colours :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:08

      But hopefully it never materializes.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous09:03

    Long are gone the days of JAT/Jat when the government forced planes down the airline's throat. Actually, the Serbian government listens to JU and their stance on this matter has been more than clear. Russians can of course try but I don't see JU changing their mind.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous09:04

    The 8 SSJ100s would more or less replace ATR fleet...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:05

      How come when JU has 5 ATRs right now?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:11

      Because SSJs are not famous with their reliability, one needs 8 of them to replace 5 ATRs.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:17

      Which is why Russians are pushing for a maintenance center in Belgrade. That was the source of all SSJ problems.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous11:04

      Why did Aeroflot have problems with the aircraft as well? No maintenance centres in Russia?

      Delete
    5. Anonymous16:33

      No, the plane is made out of so many diffrwnt parts from diffrent factoryes, etc. Complicated story and that's why no one likes them unfortunetly, they look kinda cool though.

      Delete
  6. Anonymous09:04

    Would probably be a nice addition.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous09:05

    It is obvious JU does not want those planes, now Russians are trying through political channels.

    When Serbian government tried to pressure Putin to allow Fiat to export vehicles to Russia tax-free, he rejected the idea. Hopefully the outcome with these planes is the same.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous09:06

    Embraer also made a pitch to JU, they even brought E2 to BEG and nothing became of it. I think JU is too poor and the government unwilling to invest in a new model in the fleet.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous09:06

    In the current constellation of events 8 planes are too much. 2 or 4 are more realistic to start with. One could be used for flights from Niš to pre COVID destinations as A319 is too big. And the other one or two would be useful for opening up new markets and increasing frequencies to regional destinations. Of course with 100% devotion and support from the manufacturer as a reward for such an experiment.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:34

      You have to keep in mind that for every flying Sukhoi you need one in storage to replace it when it has technical issues, which is very often. Apparently it's problems are mostly due to its engine, produced jointly by France and Russia, and the problem is in the French part of the engine, but it doesn't matter who's fault is it, the fact is the planes are grounded too often, so if you need 4 planes in working order you'll have to actually have 8 planes in total...

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:36

      New generation SSJ will be completely made in Russia so such problems will be overcome.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:50

      Well for the foreseable future they are not and the only ones on offer are those unreliable ones so the idea of purchasing them would be stupid

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:52

      If you bothered to read the article then you would know that they plan on offering it from 2025 which is basically 3.5 years from now.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:12

      If you bothered to acquire some reading skills you would see that they plan to offer it "after 2025" which basically can be whenever, it can be in 2026 or it can be in 2036...

      Delete
    6. Anonymous20:41

      comments are extremely stupid)

      Delete
  10. Anonymous09:09

    This is the best aircraft that matches the current JU network.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:15

      Nice try.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:15

      Configuration wise, yes. Profitability and reliability wise? No.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:16

      Nice try what exactly? He is absolutely right, JU never recovered from retiring the DC9 back in 2005. They need a 100 seater in their fleet.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:37

      Yes they need a 100 seater, but unfortunately SSJ 100 isn't the one they need. Just look at Interjet's experience with the plane, and they had a shitload of them... I hope Russians learn from their mistakes with this plane and offer a much better product in the future, high hopes for Irkut MC-21.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:53

      They have learned from the past mistakes which is why they created an NG with everything made in Russia.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:14

      No they haven't created it, why are you lying, they are trying to create it. I hope they will succeed, I really like this plane but unfortunately it's too unreliable in it's current form.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous10:35

      MS-21 is already flying and nearing certification towards year's end.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous22:45

      What is the seating capacity of the MC-21?

      Delete
  11. Anonymous09:10

    I hope that reason will prevail and that JU wont fall under Government pressure. JU needs an all Airbus fleet.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous09:11

    The last time the government pressured JU into doing anything was JFK. Since then everything that was done was JU's work. Same will be here, the government couldn't care less about SSJs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous22:45

      I wouldn't be so sure

      Delete
  13. Anonymous09:13

    The thing is that the SSJ is a fine aircraft. It's biggest problem was the support with spare parts and that was mostly caused by problems with the French and Italian partners. Russians have since worked on replacing them but it was too little too late.
    SSJ NG could be a hit with airlines if the Russians can learn from their mistakes. Focus everything on being made inhouse or at least in Russia and you will be fine.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:15

      Nista dok ne zamene francuski motor ima do toga barem pet godina.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:29

      Hit with which airlines? The ones that have to buy the airplane due to political pressure or the privately owned airlines in the west?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:38

      Hit with airlines that need a regional jet. After all if Brazil can make a good plane then I don't see why Russia can't. SSJ was a problem because of the French, something that will be fixed with the new generation.

      Also you don't think the EU is pushing through politics to sell Airbus?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:49

      Sure, they probably can, but with SSJ they didn't. Embraers are used worldwide, SSJ doesn't even have FAA certification (let alone sales to USA carriers). There's a world of difference between Embraer and Sukhoi.

      Delete
  14. Anonymous09:21

    Who knows what Air Serbia is up to. They have a habit of surprising everyone. I wouldn't be surprised they are planning an LCC or charter subsidiary with these planes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Of course there are exceptions, as for example Volotea in the near past, or Air Baltic currently, but as a general rule, 100 seaters are not an option for both LCC or charter operations, which are generally after numbers and mass transportation, and even 150 seaters are normally too small for such operations

      Delete
    2. Anonymous19:38

      airBaltic is not a LCC.

      Delete
    3. Agree, Air Baltic started as pure LCC and went hybrid meanwhile. But it actually proves my point that 100 seaters are very very rare in LCC and charter carriers

      Delete
  15. Anonymous09:22

    Nothing good will come out of this

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous09:22

    Has anyone had any experience flying with SSJ100? It's a rare sight in ex-Yu.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:24

      My guess is no one, yet everyone already has a comment ready to say how terrible these planes are.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:28

      Well to be fair, SSJs were spending most of the time on the ground the last decade, including with Aeroflot.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:30

      As far as I know the only regular destination from Moscow to ex-yu before pandemic with SSJ100 was to ZAG.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:37

      @09:28

      SSJ performed thousands of flights in Europe, Asia and Americas.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:50

      One would hope it did, given that it's been in service for more than a decade. Still doesn't mean its dispatch reliability was anywhere near of that of any other manufacturer.

      Delete
    6. Actually, not only aeroflot uses ssj, there are other operators and aircraft are flying quite well. You can google planespotters. Some acid dreams of who is against wont make any sense anyway, whoever they are flight crew or paxes. As for me i would be glad to jump from a320 type to ssj100, mc21 of course even more

      Delete
    7. Anonymous11:54

      Operators outside of Russia/ex-USSR?

      Delete
  17. Well that would force me to fly Lufthansa!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:39

      Ok.

      Delete
    2. Oh noo, why, why do you want to leave Air Serbia, whhyyyy ??? You would be surely missed.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous15:57

      Lol I've been checking Flightradar lately and the junk they send to BEG is astonishing. The youngest bird was 24 years old.

      Delete
  18. Anonymous09:25

    This is the cheapest way to renew the fleet

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:27

      The cheapest way is usually the cheapest for a reason.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:30

      Better no renewal than this...

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:39

      Yup better to stock to the 35 year old ATR fleet that's mostly grounded anyway.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:42

      Neither are they 35, neither are they grounded.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:53

      YU-ALN disagrees with you.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:59

      YU-ALN is not 35. And one aircraft not flying isn't exactly the entire fleet being grounded but you knew that already.

      Delete
  19. Anonymous09:27

    Pressure from Russian side and there is no single comment neither from Serbian politicians nor from Air Serbia.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:29

      I think the silence is the best answer.

      Delete
  20. Anonymous09:28

    When the Russian president is commenting about your fleet renewal, you know it's really time to buy or lease new planes, from whichever manufacturer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:29

      It was the case even before and nothing happened.

      So no trolling please.

      Delete
    2. When Putin is selling something, it means no one else in Russia could sell it to anyone. I am just afraid of the political pressure from Moscow, which unfortunately has a lot of impact in Serbia.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:54

      This is the third time the Russians are trying to sell SSJ so if they had any sway on JU or Serbia then we would already have SSJ flying in and out of BEG.

      Delete
  21. Anonymous09:29

    Why Air Serbia would want to tarnish their reputation with unreliable planes? And risk inability to fly them into EU if they lose EASA approval?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:30

      Well if you read the article, you would see they are not interested in the planes.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:38

      Those aircraft have the EASA approval and are flying in the EU.

      Delete
  22. My opinion :if they are free get them! Otherwise don't bother at all! I think that Russians are looking for suckers!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:00

      Even if they get them free it would be too expensive!

      Delete
  23. Anonymous09:58

    When was the last serious incident with Sukhoi, and what happened with the Mexicans from Interjet finally?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:13

      I think it was aeroflot 1492 in 2019, and interjet went bust because of covid

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:18

      Well they do not fly a lot, so also that should be counted.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:25

      @10:13 - OMG, I forgot about that SU 1492 crash. It is damn horrific. Thing is, 2019 is not that far away. So safety still remains an issue with this aircraft.....

      Delete
    4. @anonymous 12:25
      Safety isn't the problem with this plane but over all part availability is.The cause of crash in 2019 was due to pilot error caused by poor training standards in Aeroflot.They didn't teach pilots how to fly a plane in direct law.Some their pilots on Airbus also have a problems since their simulator training was rushed to reduce cost.

      Delete
  24. Парти10:03

    I really hope that this deal materialises. Great planes with perfect layout for JU.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:21

      I flew this plane numerous times (SU mostly) across Russia shorter routes and never experienced any issues nor delays. Inside it is actually more comfortable than the A319/320 and by far better than ancient JU ATR's. If the price is good and provided that proper maintenance is secured I would recommend it without hesitating.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:39

      +1

      Delete
  25. Anonymous10:09

    Nenad Popović, what a joke. If GoS provide enough subsidiaries, JU managers Mr. Duncan and Mr. Malek will use again 737 and even that 727 AKF, and not to talk about SSJ.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous22:46

      Nenad Popovic is Russia's minister in the government. So he constantly advocates for Russian interests.

      Delete
  26. People who fly once in 2 years should not complain here. New is new.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Anonymous11:04

    OK, I have two simple questions for all of you guys who say that JU would need two Superjets to have one in service:

    1. Does SU keep two Superjets to have one in service? Is half of their SSJ fleet always grounded?

    2. What would make a bigger impression on an average passenger on JU's regional flights - a decades old ATR or a brand new SSJ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:15

      1. SU is actually offloading their SSJ fleet to Rossiya.

      This article (https // theins.ru/news/155227) says out of SU's fleet of 30-40 SSJs, only 10 flew regularly.

      2. You know what makes poor impression? That you are delayed for hours every day due to tech problems. Even more so, if you operate to EU, where EU261 applies and you get severely penalized for operating unreliable aircraft.

      Delete
  28. Anonymous11:08

    The Embraer 190/195 would be a better choice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous22:44

      The CRJ900 they got from Adria in 2018 and then Nordica in 2019 was quite beneficial for them.

      Delete
  29. Anonymous11:14

    Airbus 220 could do the trick

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous22:44

      Definitely. But unfortunately the plane is too expensive for Air Serbia, but it is the perfect fit.

      Delete
  30. Anonymous11:50

    Russia needs to give up on that plane already.

    ReplyDelete
  31. What about Comac C919? (just asking)

    ReplyDelete
  32. Anonymous14:35

    Superjet will not fly for Air Serbia. Not now, not ever. End of discussion.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Anonymous17:23

    If I was Air Serbia I would risk and negotiate a deal with new SSJ-NG and add maintenance center in BG and for good measure few other things non aviation related projects.
    That's how you do business - you take a risk.
    MC-21 is in final stages too, have a look at that one too. play one mfct against other.

    ReplyDelete
  34. I fleew with Suhoy from Brussel to Milan.... It was nice plane..... I love it

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous22:43

      Brussels Airlines?

      Delete
  35. Anonymous18:15

    Air Serbia passengers could fly Airbus AND Superjet if Air Serbia wuld codeshare on Azimuth airline from Rostov and Krasnodar.
    This Azimuth has an only Superjet fleet and has an ever increasing network from those two cities .
    Air Serbia could also get good feed by them for example to Yerevan.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Nice to see SSJ will be in Air Serbia fleet.The most economic 100-seat jet today.Looks great for renewing the fleet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous22:43

      Reading the article, I didn't get the feeling the SSJ will be in the fleet.

      Delete
  37. Well, I suppose that AirSerbia is not only solution how to implement those aircrafts in Serbian sky. If russian side make material base (spare parts/engines) in enough quantity to provide nonstop service, why not? Everyone talk abou SSJs in SU. But no one mention about Azimuth aero which is using ONLY SSJs whithout any problem. They have 264h per month in avarage. This is proof that SSJ can be used normally.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Anonymous16:57

    how is it possible- so many idiots in just 1 chat?)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

EX-YU Aviation News does not tolerate insults, excessive swearing, racist, homophobic or any other chauvinist remarks or provocative posts with the intention of creating further arguments. A full list of comment guidelines can be found here. Thank you for your cooperation.