Samara Airlines has ordered two Antonov An-140s from the newly established joint venture between Ukraine's Kharkov state manufacturing plant (KhGAPP) and Russia's Aviacor. Samara general director Rodion Kovalev says the aircraft will be delivered in 2004.

The venture - International Project 140 - has been established to supervise production, sales and support of the 52-seat regional turboprop, which is built at manufacturing sites in Kharkov and Samara.

This year KhGAPP will build six An-140s, HESA at Isfahan, Iran, will assemble four and Aviacor one. Next year, production is to increase to 20-22, and "35 and over" in 2005, says KhGAPP general director Pavel Naumenko.

Aviacor plans to complete its first An-140 in December.

Source: Flight International