OREANDA-NEWS. UTair Aviation has received the first Boeing 737-800 NG aircraft in line with a contract for the delivery of 40 aircraft signed in 2011. The new Boeing aircraft was transferred to the airline in grand ceremony at Boeing's US facility in Seattle, Washington.

UTair is scheduled to receive 40 Boeing 737-800 NG and 737-900 NG aircraft by 2018. All aircraft will be equipped with CFM56-5B engines, delivered in single-class configuration and will seat 170 and 220 passengers, respectively. Cabin interiors will be equipped with modern ergonomic Pinnacle seats produced by B/E Aerospace, INC. Composite materials in the seats offer 15% less weight than other seat models on the market, enabling an overall reduction of the total weight of the aircraft, expanded leg room and reduced operational costs.

“Next Generation Boeing 737 aircraft meet the needs of the airline in regard to proportional operational characteristics, price and quality and are available on short-term delivery,” commented UTair Aviation CEO Andrey Martirosov. “We have achieved successfully operations with aircraft of this type and new aircraft will enable us to continue the expansion of our route network and increase airline's attractiveness for passengers on domestic as well as on international routes.”

UTair Aviation operates 52 Boeing 737 aircraft, including 12 Boeing 737-800 aircraft. In addition to this contract for 40 aircraft, UTair has also contracted for the delivery of 20 Airbus A321, three of which have already been put into operation in July-October 2013. Starting 2014 UTair also expects the delivery of SSJ-100 aircraft produced by Sukhoi Civil Aircraft in LR configuration.

Airline's fleet renewal program will provide the airline with the youngest and most modern fleet in Russia by 2020.