OREANDA-NEWS.On the occasion of the 50th International Paris airshow SuperJet International (SJI) - joint venture between Alenia Aermacchi (a Finmeccanica Company) and Sukhoi Holding (a UAC Company) - has delivered to the Mexican airline Interjet its first Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100) aircraft.

With an order for 20 aircraft plus 10 options, Interjet is the first western customer to take delivery of the SSJ100.

The aircraft has been presented for the first time at Le Bourget with its exclusive interiors designed by Pininfarina in a 93-seats (34' pitch) configuration, in accordance with Interjet high standards for passengers' comfort. The SSJ100 is a 100-seat state-of-the-art regional jet, which incorporates the most modern Western technology and is powered by two PowerJet's SaM146 engines.

The SSJ100 aircraft, developed and built by the Russian Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company (SCAC) in partnership with Alenia Aermacchi, was painted, completed and customized at the SuperJet International facilities in Venice, Italy.

“We are very proud to announce this important achievement at the Paris airshow - states Mr. Nazario Cauceglia, Chief Executive Officer of SuperJet International - In these last months we have been working closely with our Customer, which is the second largest airline in Mexico. We are excited to show at Le Bourget the first SSJ100 with interiors marked by Pininfarina Italian style. The SSJ100 is achieving a new important role in the regional segment and it is now ready to enter the western market”.

“We are delighted to receive our first SSJ100 and participate in the main international airshow in Europe - states Mr. Luis Garza, Chief Executive Officer of Interjet - The aircraft is expected to enter into service in the Mexican market very soon. We are fully confident in our choice because the SSJ100 perfectly matches Interjet domestic mid-density routes. It also fits with our top-quality services, offering a mainline comfort along with reduced operating costs and the flexibility for regional markets”.

The Interjet SSJ100 fleet will be also supported by SuperJet International with a SuperCare “per-flight-hour” program, a tailored after-sales solution which allows to keep aircraft flying with a minimum investment. The Fort Lauderdale warehouse will become the support warehouse to meet spare parts requirements in the Americas.

The programme has been financed with the support of Export Agencies of Italy, France and Russia. Namely SACE, COFACE and VEB/EXIAR granted a proactive approach towards this important transaction which paved the way of the SSJ100 to the western market.

The Sukhoi Superjet 100 currently represents the most important industrial programme between the Russian Federation and Europe in the commercial aircraft sector.