Ljubljana, 26 November (STA) - Slovenian carrier Adria Airways has signed an agreement to lease 15 Sukhoi Superjet SSJ100 aircraft from the Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company starting early next year. The long-term lease also involves an agreement to establish a SSJ100 maintenance and repair organization at Ljubljana airport, the company said on Monday.
"During the past two years we have been analysing the SSJ100 type and came to the conclusion that all the technical and operational characteristics of this aircraft would best suit our strategic goals," Adria CEO Holger Kowarsch was quoted as saying.
He also added that the SSJ100 lease would allow the company to offer more of the current CRJ and Airbus aircraft for wet leasing service.
Sukhoi President Alexander Rubtsov stressed that the maintenance and repair base would "secure the operational reliability of SSJ100 aircraft in Europe" as the company enters the European market with the aircraft.
The Sukhoi SSJ100 is a twin-engine regional jet with up to 108 seats in all-economy configuration. It had its maiden flight in 2008 and entered service in 2011 with Armenia's flag carrier Armavia.
Adria currently operates three Airbus A319 aircraft, eight Bombardier regional jets CRJ900, three CRJ700ER and six Saab 2000 aircraft.
The news is a part of a profound overhaul at the airline, which has been struggling financially for years. Its new owners, the German turnaround fund 4kInvest, have so far not managed to reverse the trend.
Just recently, 4kInvest announced a EUR 10m capital injection before the end of the year.
The company will also receive some help from the state, as the government announced today it had picked Adria to provide flight to Brussels for civil servants. The contract is worth EUR 4.5m.