Bombardier Aerospace might well have secured its place in the Russian airline market during the Moscow Air Show (MAKS 2011) this week, when the country’s largest airplane lessors signed a memorandum of understanding covering up to 30 C Series jets. 

Chet Fuller, senior vice president for Bombardier Commercial Aircraft, and Alexander Roubtsov, general director of Ilyushin Finance Company (IFC), signed a preliminary purchase agreement that calls for the acquisition of three CS100s and seven CS300s (with options for 10 more) and purchase rights for another 10 of the new Canadian narrowbodies.

Roubtsov characterized the CS300 as “the best in its class,” further noting that the 120- to 145-seat twinjet fits perfectly between the 99-seat Antonov An-158 regional jet and the 150- to 162-seat Irkut MS-21-200 twinjet already in the portfolio of the Russian leasing firm.

“There is large amount of work ahead of us, as we need to finalize the main purchase agreement and get approval of the company’s council of directors,” he said. “Next year the purchase agreement shall be finalized. The aircraft being acquired are intended for customers in Russia and outside it.”

The agreement marks the first C-series order to come from Russia and the first placed for Western jets by Russia’s largest aircraft leasing firm. Bombardier did not reveal the value of the deal, quoting only the CS300’s $66 million sticker price.

Indigenous products in IFC’s portfolio include the Ilyushin Il-96-300 (passenger) and Il-96-400T (cargo) four-engine, widebody aircraft, Tu-204-100/300 and Tu-214 narrowbodies and An-148/158 regional jets.