Russia’s UTAir plans to acquire as many as 24 Sukhoi Superjet 100-95s as replacements for its aged Tupolev Tu-134s, Sukhoi general director Mikhail Pogosyan confirmed during a late November press conference held at the airline’s headquarters in the western Siberian city of Khanty-Mansiysk. UTAir, Russia’s fourth largest airline, expects to take delivery of its first SSJ100 in 2013.

On November 21 Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (SCAC) flew the fourth SSJ100 prototype, fully equipped with cabin and galley equipment, to Khanty-Mansiysk’s Yugra airport for presentation to UTAir general director Andrey Martirosov.

UTAir began a transition away from old Soviet-era jetliners and turboprops to used Western models in 2005, when it took the first of what now constitutes a fleet of 14 ATR 42s. It also flies three ATR 72s, as well as six Bombardier CRJ100s, 16 Boeing 737-500s, three 737-400s and two 757-200s.