Saint Petersburg-based Rossiya Airlines unveiled the look of its livery on an Irkut MC-21. This is the first time that one of these new Russian-built aircraft has been given an airline livery. The painting process was carried out in Ulyanovsk.
In the first instance, three Irkut MC-21 will sport the livery of Rossiya and will be used to train instructor pilots.
In a press release, the company stressed that this is «a historic event», as Rossiya has «unique and valuable experience in the successful introduction and operation of Russian aircraft». According to the airline’s own data, it currently has 74 Superjet 100 aircraft in its fleet, produced by Russian manufacturer Sukhoi.
The Irkut MC-21
The Irkut MC-21 is a single-aisle, medium-range aircraft with a capacity of just over 200 passengers. Although it completed its maiden flight in May 2017, it has not yet begun commercial operations. The first deliveries could take place during the first months of 2023.
Sanctions by the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada restricting Russia from importing Western-made airplanes and parts have added pressure on the country’s aircraft production.
In response, the Russian administration began to implement a series of measures to promote the domestic aircraft industry. In this context, one of the main challenges for Russian manufacturers is to increase the pace of production.
The Russian government emphasised the need to reduce dependence on foreign inputs as much as possible. For the local aerospace industry, reducing imports of components and encouraging domestic manufacturers to produce their own products is key to their intentions.
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