Sukhoi to sell 12 Superjet to Kuban Airlines

Sukhoi Civil Aircraft signed an agreement of intent on Friday to supply Kuban Airlines with 12 Sukhoi Superjet 100 planes worth $380.4 million. The companies plan to sign a firm contract later this year, with deliveries scheduled for 2012-2015. Kuban Airlines Chairman Denis Ilyin said the company planned to increase its fleet to no less than 30 aircraft by 2015. Superjet 100 is a family of medium-haul passenger aircraft developed by Sukhoi in cooperation with U.S. and European aviation corporations, including Boeing, Snecma, Thales, Messier Dowty, Liebherr Aerospace and Honeywell. The aircraft is capable of carrying 75-98 passengers for up to 4,400 kilometers. Kuban Airlines is part of the Basic Element holding firm owned by tycoon Oleg Deripaska.