Azerbaijan interested in purchasing Russian civilian aircraft MC-21
By Rashid Shirinov
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov voiced Azerbaijan’s interest in purchasing Russian civilian aircraft MC-21.
The minister, talking to Ria Novosti on February 9, said that representatives of Azerbaijan’s civil aviation participated in the presentation of the aircraft, and expressed the country’s interest in this plane.
“The fleet should be renewed, but it is too early to talk about specific details,” Mammadyarov said.
MC-21, which is also referred to as main plane of the 21st century, is assembled and developed by Russia’s Irkut Corporation, a part of the United Aircraft Corporation.
MC-21 is a family of new generation medium range single-aisle jets with wide-body aircraft comfort. The aircraft combine the latest trends in global aviation with Russia's experience in aerospace industry. The first test flight is scheduled for February-March 2017.
The Irkutsk Aviation Plant is planning to produce three versions of the MC-21, including the 150-seat MC-21-200, the 180-seat MC-21-300 and the 212-seat MC-21-400.
Alexander Rubtsov, the general director of "Ilyushin Finance Co." earlier said that Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) will sign a contract on the purchase of 10 aircrafts MC-21 in the first quarter of 2017.
The sides signed a memorandum of intent for purchase the aircrafts in June 2016, expiration date of the document is February 2017.
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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
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