Sukhoi to supply SuperJet-100 planes to Aeroflot by late 2008

MOSCOW, March 20 (RIA Novosti) - Russian aircraft maker Sukhoi will start supplying SuperJet-100 aircraft to the country's largest air carrier Aeroflot [RTS: AFLT] by late 2008, Sukhoi said Tuesday.

Earlier, it was reported that Aeroflot plans to buy 50 SuperJet-100 planes from Sukhoi Civil Aircraft.

"SuperJet-100 deliveries to Aeroflot will start by the end of 2008," Olga Kryukova, Sukhoi Civil Aircraft PR director, told RIA Novosti.

The Sukhoi SuperJet-100 belongs to a series of RRJ (Russian Regional Jet)-type planes, with a seating capacity of 60 to 95, which is being developed by Sukhoi, NPO Saturn, Snecma and Boeing.

The RRJ market is estimated at 5,400-5,600 until 2023, which amounts to around $100 billion in sales. Sukhoi plans to make at least 700 SuperJet-100 planes, with the first six planes due later this year.

According to forecasts, 35% of the aircraft could be sold in North America, 25% in Europe, 10% in Latin America, and 7% in Russia and China.