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.
Source: MRO News
