Russian leasing company acquires 12 Boeing 737-800 jetliners for operation by Russian carrier Transaero Airlines
MOSCOW, 7 April 2013. Russian aircraft leasing company Sberbank Leasing is buying 12 Boeing next-generation 737-800 single-aisle passenger jets for more than $1 million, which will be operated by Russian commercial and charter air carrier Transaero Airlines based at Domodedovo International Airport near Moscow.
The purchase by Sberbank of Russia, the parent company of Sberbank Leasing, was announced Thursday. The airplanes are intended for operational leasing under Sberbank's contract with Transaero, one of Sberbank's key corporate customers, Boeing officials say.
The sale will help lay the groundwork for finance and operational leasing of imported aircraft in Russia, Boeing officials say. The sale also "contributes to the development of trade and economic relations between Russia and the U.S.," says Herman Gref, CEO and chairman of the board of Sberbank of Russia. Sberbank of Russia is the largest bank in Russia.
The 737-800 is the third generation derivative of the venerable Boeing 737 short- to medium-range twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner, which has been in production for nearly 50 years. The 737-800 is a stretched version of the 737-700, and has been in service since 1998.
The 737-800 seats 162 passengers in a two-class layout, or 189 in one class, and competes with the Airbus A320. The 737-800 is part of the Boeing 737 Next Generation family, which is composed of the Boeing 737-600/-700/-800/-900 series short- to medium-range, narrow-body jet airliners.
Eventually Boeing officials expect the future 737 MAX series, a fuel-efficient upgraded and re-engined model of the 737, to replace the Next Generation 737 series. The 737 MAX was introduced as a direct competitor to the Airbus A320 New Engine Option (NEO) aircraft.
For more information contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes online at www.boeing.com/boeing/commercial, Sberbank Leasing at www.sbrf.ru/en/corporatecustomers/sberbankleasing, or Transaero Airlines at http://transaero.ru.
John Keller | Editor-in-Chief
John Keller is the Editor-in-Chief, Military & Aerospace Electronics Magazine--provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronics and optoelectronic technologies in military, space and commercial aviation applications. John has been a member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since 1989 and chief editor since 1995.