Ilyushin visit China to discuss Il-96s for Xinjiang Airlines (230 words)

Published: 12/14/2001

According to reports KrasAir and Xinjiang Airlines are continuing the long negotiations with Ilyushin on the possible acquisition of Il-96s to replace aging Il-86s. The negotiations with Xinjiang Airlines for a possible order of 3 Il-96-300 have been running for well over two years and have been dogged by earlier Chinese concerns with Russian aircraft safety. Are due to be resumed in January, when Ilyushin General Designer Genrikh Novoshilov visits China to reportedly discuss both the Il-96s with airline and Il-76 derived tankers and AWACS aircraft. The Chinese have been active discussions concerning the acquisition of the Il-76 derived A-501 from some period of time. As for the Il-86, the aircraft has now been removed from scheduled service by all Russian carriers bar KrasAir, that now uses its three operational aircraft(out of five) during the winter and requires a replacement. According to Boris Abramovich General Director of KrasAir, “Our major scheduled routes and long-range tourist charters justify using the Il-96" and the airline plans to use the aircraft on new services to Western Europe and South East Asia. He also hopes that by buying Russian aircraft, the airline may gain favourable treatment from the Russian aviation authorities on the licensing of new routes.The airline reports that it is continuing its negotiations with both Ilyushin-Finance and FLC concernign the leasign of the new aircraft as part of the government guaranteed leasing structures.

Article ID: 2956