“Aviastar-SP” aircraft plant has received the first tranche for the construction of two TU-204-120s. The project is financed by European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the first payment amounted to $30 million. The total investment sum for the construction of the two aircraft is to amount to $45 mln. The rest of the funds is to be received by the end of the year. The aircraft intended for China is to be released in service in 2006. The customer has already declared that if all the terms and conditions of the contract are met and the aircraft is released in time its order will rise to 20 airplanes of this model.
TU-204-120, being TU-204-100 modification fitted with Rolls-Royce engines, was designed by Tupolev Design Bureau. While designing this version it was decided to install western engines and avionics. The modification was launched into serial production at Ulyanovsk “Aviastar” enterprise . The price of a 210-seat airplane makes up approximately $36-38 mln.
In September 2001 the principal “Aviastar-SP” shareholder, Sirocco Aerospace Company (Egypt), obtained a contract for five TU-204-120s for Chinese airlines. The order for 3 cargo airplanes was received from China Southwest airline, two more - were ordered by China Northwest one. At the same time the Chinese party announced its intention to purchase ten more examples.
Initially the airplanes were to be released in service in 2003, however the project failed due to the lack of financing. In autumn 2002 the parties extended the contract. Under the new agreement the aircraft were due to delivery at the end of 2005. However the delivery date was postponed for a year for the same reason.
The other day European Bank for Reconstruction and Development granted “Aviastar-SP” the first tranche for the manufacture of two TU-204-120s. It’s worth mentioning that EBRD is a financial partner of Sirocco Aerospace Company, the latter owns exclusive rights of the TU-204-120 marketing.
Besides, under the investment agreement between Rosaviacosmos, “Aviastar-SP”, “Tupolev” and Sirocco companies, the latter has to put up about $280 mln into the TU-204 project development. $210 mln of this sum are intended to “Aviastar”.
The Egyptian company has already bought Rolls-Royce engines for the installation on the first “Chinese” airplanes as well as foreign avionics for all the five machines exported to China.
Egor Zenkov, the vice-president of Sirocco Aerospace Company, declared the first payment to amount to $30 mln. “The total level of investments into these two airplanes is estimated at $45 mln.”,- added Mr. Zenkov. With reference to “Ъ” next $15 mln. will have come in Ulyanovsk aircraft plant by the end of the year. According to Egor Zenkov two aircraft are to be released in 2006. Next three machines are planned to be produced by the end of 2006-the beginning of 2007.
It’s worth noting that at present aircraft customers are Air China and China Eastern Airlines (since within the order execution period an air transport reform was carried out in China and the initial buyers were renamed).With reference to certain sources the Chinese party has already declared its intention to order approximately twenty more TU-204 aircraft. The details of the following order will be discussed later, upon the accomplishment of the first two airplanes. Besides, in experts’ opinion Chinese airmarket has a very significant capacity at present – approximately 100 aircraft.

("Коммерсантъ-Самара", 02.10.05)