Russian Deputy Minister for Industry and trade Yuri Slyusar said that the refusal by Armavia to buy Superjet 100 is a result of financial and economic problems of the Armenian company, Rossiyskaya Gazeta reports.
Armavia was the first company to purchase the jet in April 2011. The jet for small and medium-range flights is currently being repaired at the Civil Planes of Sukhoi.
Armavia signed a contract for the purchase of two Superjet 100s, cancelling the purchase of the second one later. The company explained that it is a good plane, but Airbus and Boeing planes fly 330-350 hours a month, while Superjet 100 flies only 150 hours. Moreover, the company had to spend 4 days resolving passing customs procedures with Russia only to repair the plane for two days at Zhukovsky.
One Sukhoi Superjet 100 crashed in Indonesia on May 9, 2012. It was being demonstrated to 6 Asian states. 48 people were killed in the flight.
