Irkut MS-21-300: The aircraft should convince in its own country first.

Slower international expansionMS-21 and Superjet to set initial focus on Russia

Internationally, the Superjet has been a flop so far. Now Russia wants to ensure success at home first. This also applies to the new Irkut MS-21 and Illyushin Il-114-300.

Top-Jobs

Aerologic

First Officer (m/f/x) - B777 type rated

Leipzig / Halle Airport
Feste Anstellung
Aerologic GmbH
Deutschland
Vollzeit
Top jobs
logo mjet

CAMO ENGINEER m/f/d

Schwechat, Wien
Feste Anstellung
Business Aviation
MJET GmbH
Österreich
Vollzeit
Top jobs
Zimex logo

Administrator AVOR & CAMO

Vollzeit
Zimex Aviation Ltd.
Flugoperationen
Feste Anstellung
Top jobs
Altenrhein
Schweiz

In summer 2018, Brussels Airlines announced that it would no longer rely on its leased Superjets in the future. The Russian regional jet is a decent aircraft, that doesn't have any more technical problems than other planes, according to Brussels Airlines' former boss Christina Foerster. But problems with the rapid availability of spare parts for the relatively young model meant that the aircraft weren't able to spend much time in the air.

The largest international Superjet operator, Mexican Interjet, has repeatedly complained about similar problems. As a result, the Superjet was never able to assert itself outside Russia. Manufacturer Sukhoi therefore decided to give higher priority to service in future and to make the Superjet more Russian with more domestically produced parts.

Superjet, MS-21 and Il-114 with domestic focus

Sukhoi and the Superjet now belong to the Russian aviation consortium UAC, which is controlled by the state-owned Rostec group. Rostec's aviation boss Anatoly Serdyukov stated in an interview with the channel RBC that the Superjet flop can be seen as a lesson.

«In the near future we want to concentrate on the domestic market», said Serdyukov. «Here we want to increase the market share of our products significantly.» Before actively promoting aeroplanes on the global market, a large, well-functioning fleet must be established in Russia, he says. «One of the priority areas here is the development of an effective operation and service procedure for the Superjet 100, Irkut MS-21 and Ilyushin Il-114.»

Government wants to make things harder for Airbus and Boeing

All these planes are part of UAC. The short and medium-haul jet MS-21 is undergoing flight tests, while the newly launched regional jet Il-114-300 is scheduled to take off on its maiden flight later this year. Serdyukov stressed that Russian aircraft manufacturers must «compete with strong foreign manufacturers, not among themselves». Therefore, the civil aviation division will be built on the basis of Irkut, and Superjet manufacturer Sukhoi has already been affiliated. Tupolev and Ilyushin are also expected to contribute and bring in their strengths.

The Russian government had made it clear in 2017 that domestic airlines should mainly buy Russian aircraft in the future. «I production of domestic aircraft increases, we will reduce the privileges that foreign aircraft manufacturers enjoy», said Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin at the time.

Mehr zum Thema

Bereits im vergangenen Dezember stellte der Hersteller den ersten Prototypen der Il-114-300 vor.

Putin wants a new Airline with an all Russian fleet

Antonov An-24 von Polar Airlines: Die russische Regionalairline wird den Turbopropflieger bis 2025 ausmustern.

Polar Airlines plans to retire soviet-era aircraft

Das Zentrale Aerohydrodynamische Institut Tsagi leitet die Forschung zu einem neuen russischen Überfallflieger. Auch das Luftfahrt-Konsortium UAC ist bereits beteiligt. Allerdings soll weder ein Überschallbomber wie die Tu-160 entstehen noch ein Passagierflieger wie die Tu-144. <a href="https://www.aerotelegraph.com/russland-gibt-einblick-in-seine-ueberschallplaene" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Russland plant einen Überschall-Businessjet</a>.

Russia provides insight into its supersonic development plans

Antonov-Chef Alexander Los: Stolz auf die Wiederaufnahme der Produktion.

Antonov is building the first An-178 with no Russian parts

Video

Airbus A380 von Lufthansa: Der Superjumbo wurde von einem Akkuschrauber gezogen.
Kann ein A380 von einem Hobbyakkuschrauber bewegt werden, ja er kann. Das zeigt ein aktueller Werbespot. Inklusive offizieller Anerkennung.
Benjamin Recklies
Benjamin Recklies
Szene aus dem Original-Werbespot von Jet 2: WUrde im Netz umgedeutet.
Der Popsong Hold My Hand wurde 2015 ein respektabler Chart-Erfolg. Doch erst ein Werbespot des britischen Ferienfliegers Jet 2 machte ihn international bekannt – ironischerweise nicht wegen des Urlaubsgefühls, sondern seiner Zweitverwertung in sozialen Medien.
Stefan Eiselin
Stefan Eiselin
hose runter
Da wollte jemand eine klare Botschaft übermitteln: Ein Video zeigt, wie ein Bodenmitarbeiter vor einem Flugzeug die Hose herunterlässt.
Timo Nowack
Timo Nowack