ZHUKOVSKY (Moscow Region), August 22 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Ilyushin Finance aircraft leasing firm and Iran Air Tours have signed a deal to sell five Tu-204 aircraft to the Islamic Republic.
The signing of the contract with the subsidiary of the Iran Air national carrier, which was reported to be worth over $200 million, took place during the MAKS-2007 air show under way near Moscow. The cargo planes will start to be supplied in 2009.
Ilyushin Finance, which deals with financial and operational leasing of Russian-made civil aircraft, funding of supplies and provides consulting services, has been the leader in terms of the aggregate value of its deals concluded at Russia's largest air show this year.
Also Wednesday, it signed a memorandum of understanding with Cuba's Aviaimport SA on the delivery of three Tu-204 and three An-148 planes, designed for passenger, cargo-passenger and cargo transportation flights, and signed leasing agreements for the aircraft with two Russian carriers. The company said it planned one more contract Thursday.
Ilyushin Finance has a 38% stake in Russia's 90% state-owned United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), which incorporates commercial and military aircraft makers, such as Sukhoi, Ilyushin, and Tupolev, as well as companies involved in distribution, including Aviaexport.
