Alitalia has delivered a blow to Sukhoi by electing to renew it regional jet fleet with Embraer aircraft rather than Superjets.
The Italian carrier confirms that its original preference was for the Sukhoi Superjet, in which programme Italy's Alenia Aeronautica is a partner, and that it even adapted its re-fleeting plans in light of the type's delays. But on the grounds that the Superjet is still to fly, it has now decided to lease 20 new Embraer jets, with the order to be split between Embraer 170s and Embraer 190s.
Deliveries of the aircraft are to commence in August 2011 and conclude in mid-2012.
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/12/17/351059/alitalia-plumps-for-embraers-over-superjets.html
This is the first big fleet order made by the new "Alitalia - Compagnia Aerea Italiana", privately owned and born in 2008 from the bankrupt "Alitalia - Linee Aeree Italiane".
Nevertheless the move of Alitalia has arisen a "quite expected" string of polemics:
The "Corriere della Sera" newspaper reports that the chief of parlametary commission for transports has asked to the governement and to the Premier for commenting the bid. The Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) president Vito Riggio also said to be surprised about the choice.
Still to come, but expected to be interesting as well, the comments of Mr Putin, that according to Flight Internatonal (14-20 December) "Putin tips Italian Superjet orders", was bullish on coming large orders for the Superjet from italian airlines.....
It took at least decade to Italy to privatize the heavy-loss making state-owned carrier back in 2008. Hasn't come the time to step back and let the new owners and management to make their choices?