OREANDA-NEWS. Aeroflot (Moscow Exchange ticker: AFLT) has taken delivery of its ninth full-specification Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ-100). The plane has been named in honour of Georgy Benkunsky, a Soviet pilot and veteran of World War II.

The new SSJ-100 (registration number RA-89025) has been transferred to Aeroflot under a financial lease from VEB Leasing. The aircraft can accommodate 87 passengers in a spacious dual-class configuration (12 seats in business and 75 in economy), and has a range of 2,400 km.

The SSJ-100 is a next-generation regional jet developed and produced by Sukhoi Company in collaboration with Alenia Aeronautica. The SSJ-100 made its first flight on 19 May 2008, and received certification from the Aviation Register of the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC AR) in January 2011.

New aircraft form part of Aeroflot's strategy to expand its route network and strengthen its leadership in the domestic air transport market. SSJ-100 jets are an important part of Aeroflot's fleet, which is among Europe's most modern and technologically advanced. The total order for SSJ-100 stands at 30 aircraft.