SSJ-100 Planes Up for Consideration for New Nicaraguan Airline – Company

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia's Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company (SCAC) has submitted to the Nicaraguan government propositions to establish a national carrier for the Central American country, company Senior Vice President Evgeny Andrachnikov said Friday.

"The Nicaraguan government ponders creating an airline. We have given them a number of our offers," Andrachnikov told RIA Novosti.

The SCAC vice president added that an operating fleet of five Sukhoi SuperJet-100 passenger planes in Nicaragua is being discussed at the moment.

"We understand that the Nicaraguan government needs an aircraft, so we are doing a sort of 'homework' for this, studying a hypothetical route network and linking it to our Sukhoi SuperJet-100."

The SCAC is also discussing cooperation projects with India, China and Turkey to build the jet airliner, according to the company vice president.

"Indian components in our airplane could become a driver of Sukhoi SuperJet 100's involvement in Indian economic space. Turkey also has plans to create a regional airplane," Andrachnikov said.

The Superjet-100, a short-haul passenger airliner, made its maiden flight in 2008 and was made available for commercial use in 2011.

The plane, which can carry up to 95 passengers, is used by Russian, Mexican and Laotian airlines. Nepalese-based Bishwo Airways is planning to buy Superjet-100 planes.