Aeroflot Group expecting delivery of first MC-21 aircraft starting in 2026

MOSCOW. Dec 12 (Interfax) - Aeroflot Group expects to receive delivery of the first medium-range MC-21 aircraft starting in 2026, Ivan Batanov, director of the company's network and revenue management department, said at the PRO//Motion passenger forum.

"We expect the first [domestic aircraft] in 2026, the MC-21. We are currently actively collaborating with the manufacturer to customize the aircraft," Batanov said.

Batanov also confirmed the group's plans to transport more than 55 million passengers in 2024, with overall traffic totaling 55.4 million travelers, implying growth of 17%, including 42.5 million domestically, he specified.

The latest official data indicate that serial manufacturing of the MC-21 in the MC-21-310 modification is planned for launch in 2025, with the deadlines having been postponed several times. The airliner was initially created as part of international collaboration. However, the foreign partners exited the project upon sanctions being imposed against Russia, resulting in the need to expedite import substitution of systems and components.

First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov earlier this year said that a version with the fuselage shortened by one section could be manufactured along with the basic MC-21. The aircraft would be capable of the indicated flight range accounting for the weight characteristics obtained after import substitution, Manturov said.

Aeroflot signed an agreement with PJSC United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) 2022 to supply 339 domestic aircraft, including MC-21, SJ-100, and Tu-214. Aeroflot, its Rossiya Airlines subsidiary, and AKS signed firm contracts for 18 MC-21 and 34 SJ-100 aircraft pursuant to the stated agreement at the EEF 2023.