Aircraft

By Tom Zaitsev in Moscow

Russian lessor Ilyushin Finance (IFC) has reached an agreement with airframer Aviastar on securing slots to produce 30 Tupolev Tu-204 aircraft.

The agreement covers ten firm orders, with deliveries due in 2007-08, plus an option for 20 examples to be assembled in 2009-10. The agreement covers variants including the Tu-204-100, -300 and freighter versions.

IFC has secured orders and options for 19 Tupolev twin-jets from domestic and foreign airlines and is now in talks about supplying 15 more. In April, IFC also signed an agreement with engine manufacturer Perm Motors Zavod to produce 30 Soloviev PS-90A turbofans to power the type.

This followed a Russian government decision to set aside Rb6 billion ($220 million) from a specially-allocated development budget for IFC and its peer Finance Leasing Company, with the funds to be divided equally between the two firms.

IFC director Alexander Rubtsov says these funds will be used to double the company’s charter capital and borrowing capacity, and be funnelled into boosting production at Aviastar and the Voronezh-based factory VASO, with which IFC has placed orders for nine Ilyushin Il-96s.