Red Wings Airlines plans to show the SSJ100 aircraft from the business aviation segment at the airshow MAKS-2023 this summer, Expert magazine reported citing a source in the aviation industry.
The company intends to launch it on the market instead of a one-class economy configuration with 100 seats in full business class and reducing the number of seats to 52. Currently the details of the project are being coordinated with the State Transport Leasing Company (STLC). The magazine report notes that the reduction of the flight load on such planes will allow to use them fully for international transportation, reducing the flight hours and maintaining the income from aircraft exploitation.
“The new Superjet will occupy a new niche in the Russian market, where demand remains high, especially after the introduction of new sanctions and other international restrictions against Russia by Western countries. Now in Russia there are planes presented in economy, economy/business and vip configurations, but the planes with full business class layout have not yet been produced in the country,” the publication writes. The source noted that this version is most demanded by Russian soccer clubs, musical groups and large corporate customers.
The idea to turn the Superjet into a version with a full business class cabin or to transport sports teams is not new. During the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (SCAC, now a subsidiary of Irkut Corporation – Regional Aircraft) presented a mockup of a specialized SportJet by Sukhoi – “the world’s first aircraft designed specifically for professional athletes” – this is how Sukhoi Civil Aircraft presented the specialized business version of the Superjet during the 2016 Summer Olympics. However, beyond the demonstration of the model in Brazil, the case did not go, and more about this project is not reported.
The story with the business jet for sports teams later had its continuation, though not publicly. Our website learned from an informed source in the European aviation industry that the former pilot of AlItalia airline, Gaetano Rizzi, in 2019 was in a series of negotiations with the SCAC for an aircraft for teams of the Italian soccer league Serie A and, in particular, for the FC Napoli. The Italians were considering buying several SSJ100s in the full business class version with 56 seats. However the deal was not closed for reasons which will not be disclosed. We only know that the Italian billionaire businessman was very upset with the failed delivery of the aircraft.
A full business class was first offered to the Slovenian airline Adria in 2019. At that time, a group of investors, which included Oleg Evdokimov, CEO of ATEO air, offered to revive the bankrupt carrier exactly with SSJ100 planes. We asked the specialist to comment on the advantages of full business class on the SSJ100 aircraft.
“Our goal was to capture the European market by competing with Lufthansa and Swiss on three important routes: Zurich, Munich and Frankfurt. Here we were planning to use the 56-seat SSJ100. The business plan was to offer German and Swiss customers business class flights at competitors’ eco-fares or even at a lower price, because their fares were and still are very high – about 200 euros per hour of flight. They offer business class flights from these cities for about 400 euros one way. It goes without saying that we had grounds for successful development of the project,” said Oleg Evdokimov.
According to the expert, the Superjet 100 has very good prospects in the Gulf States and the Indian Ocean. Now the proposal on the options of the aircraft with full first class or full business is under consideration by the government of the Maldives. In 2019, the new Maafaru International Airport opened in the northern part of the Maldivian archipelago’s Nunu Atoll. “The placement of the new airport near a whole group of luxury hotels allows for delivery of guests from international air hubs directly to the hotel. The use of SSJ100 aircraft in special configuration will provide the guests with the comfort of first and business class intercontinental airliners,” says Oleg Evdokimov.
VIP flights are expected to be operated by planes in All First Class – 19 seats and All Business Class – 56 seats. “The Superjet 100 aircraft in terms of value for money is the most suitable for routes to the archipelago from the mainland or the islands of Southeast Asia, for example, from Malaysia or Singapore. The SSJ100 has a number of advantages over larger and heavier planes, it has a competitive lease rate and the passenger options [56C, 75U + 12C and intermediate 60U + 20C – RuAviation] are best suited for such flights. The aircraft provides low airport charges due to a 10-25% lower takeoff weight than its competitors. Meets existing and future standards for noise and CO2 emissions. The cabin provides maximum comfort for passengers, there are spacious luggage shelves and a large luggage compartment,” he said.
Oleg Evdokimov also noted that the Superjet 100 is covered by the Russian state subsidy for spare parts and equipment reservation program as well as for training of flight and ground personnel.
Thus, in his opinion, Red Wings’ business model could involve charter operations in markets with high paying capacity on SSJ100 aircraft in a full business configuration of 52-56 seats. “This is an opportunity to make money, to save the airplane resources through less intensive aircraft operations, to take a certain share of the market for such transportation, as well as the popularization and promotion of the Russian airplane on foreign markets and increase its recognition. This is particularly relevant now, taking into account the recent agreements between the UAE, the UAC and SJI,” the expert stressed.
His opinion coincided with the opinion of our other source in the Russian aviation industry who explained our editorial office, commenting the initiative of Red Wings, that the most likely direction of the flights is Dubai where it is easy to get a charter from Russia for 100% occupancy of business class 52 seats.
