Tajikistan's national carrier, Tajik Air, has signed a preliminary agreement to take up to four Sukhoi Superjet 100s.
The carrier said it would take delivery of the twinjets under financial lease, under the letter of intent sealed during the MAKS Moscow air show last week.
Sukhoi had briefly indicated, as part of a presentation on Superjet at the show, that it would sign a deal with the Tajik operator.
Tajik Air general director Muzaffar Isakov said the aircraft had good take-off and landing characteristics and that its all-weather capabilities would enable the carrier to "open new routes to optimise its network and schedule".
The airline expects to take delivery of the first two aircraft at its Dushanbe base towards the end of 2013.
Tajik Air said the PowerJet SaM146-equipped Superjet would replace "outdated" Tupolev Tu-134 and Tu-154 aircraft in the carrier's fleet.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news