Sukhoi Civil Aircraft has signed a trilateral letter of intent covering the delivery of six Superjet 100s with Thai Kom Airlines and maintenance firm Wishv.

The deal was signed as part of an intergovernmental Russia-Thailand economy panel, in the presence of Russian trade and industry minister Denis Manturov on 27 December.

"According to the terms of the agreement signed there should be six SSJ100 delivered in 2019-2020," says Sukhoi. "The aircraft are to fly both within the country and abroad."

Sukhoi Civil Aircraft president Alexander Rubtsov had earlier this month been quoted in Russian media as saying it was aiming to agree deal with a Thai start-up carrier before year-end.

It says Wishv is undergoing the process of securing approval as an SSJ100 maintenance station in Thailand.

"It is anticipated that the agreement is to be turned into the firm order early in 2019," Sukhoi adds.

The Thai air force has since the summer of 2016 operated VIP-configured SSJ100s for personnel transport.

Source: Cirium Dashboard