Pictures: First Tupolev Tu-204 for Cubana prepared for delivery

The first Tupolev Tu-204 for Cuba's Cubana is among several of the twinjet airliners being prepared for delivery in Ulyanovsk by Russian manufacturer Aviastar.

Cubana's Tu-204-100E flew for the first time on 9 June and is due to be handed over to the airline on 20 June, followed by a freighter variant three days later.

Iran's Mahan Air is leasing a pair of passenger Rolls-Royce RB211-535E-powered Tu-204-120 passenger aircraft and a -120C freighter from Egypt's Sirocco Aerospace International.

Delivery of Air China Cargo's Tu-204-120CE - also Rolls Royce-powered and equipped with Honeywell avionics - has been postponed until end of June "as it is necessary to solve some legal issues", says Aviastar.

Related stories

• Picture: Chinese pilots complete Tu-204 freighter training
• Russian lessor IFC arranges slots for Tu-204 assembly from Aviastar
• Russia completes next generation Tu-204-120CE certification tests
• JAA completes initial flight tests of R-R-powered Tu-204

Source: FlightGlobal.com