As it became known the Russian leasing company “Ilyushin Finance Co.” (Voronezh) negotiated with Syrian Arab Airlines authorities within the framework of Berlin International Air Show ILA-2006. They discussed delivery of about ten IL-96s and Tu-204s which may be contracted in June within 2007-2008. IFC considers the contract with Syrianair to be an entrance to Middle East aircraft market.
    On Monday the official Russian delegation headed by Boris Alyoshin, Federal Industry Agency Chief, arrived in Berlin by Tu-204-300 charter flight operated by “Vladivostok Avia”. As it was said in IFC, it was IFC and Tupolev who initiated exposing the aircraft in ILA-2006. “It was of great importance for us to show Tu-204 not so much to European consumers but to potential customers from Third World countries” – admitted in IFC. On Tuesday the Syrianair delegation headed by Nashaat Nymir, General Director and Chairman of the Directors’ Board, went on Tu-204 board. “The Syrianair representatives highly appreciated the aircraft. We hope that a contract will be signed in June” – reported IFC. Syrian press agency SANA informed that at the same day Yarub Badr, Syrian Minister of Transport, and Robert Markaryan, Russian Ambassador in Syria, discussed questions of providing Russian aircraft to Syrianair. “We want to buy six-seven aircraft of two types – heavy cargo IL and middle cargo TU” – reported the Minister.
    Syrian Arab Airlines was founded in 1946. The airlines owns six A320-200s (produced in 1998-1999), six Boeings 727-200 (1976-1981), two Boeings 747SP (1976), one Tu-134B (1982) and Yakovlev-40K (1979); two leased IL-76Ms (1981).
    A year ago IFC and Syrianair started negotiating delivery of three long-haul IL-96-400s (an up-to-date version of IL-96-300 manufactured by Voronezh-based aircraft factory) and 3-6 different modifications of middle-distance TU-204s (TU-204-100/300) manufactured by Ulyanovsk-based Aviastar-SP. Planned delivery date – 2007-2008, value of IL-96-400 is about $60 mln, of Tu-204 – more $30 mln. Transaction financing is to be planned within the framework of Government Programme for Financial (Guarantee) Support of Industrial Products Export for implementation of which it is budgeted $500 mln.
    A planned contract with Syria is not the first export transaction of IFC. In December and March the company transferred two IL-96-300s to Cubana airline. In April the parties concluded a contract for delivery of five more aircraft – two IL-96-300s, two TU-204-100s and one TU-204. At that very time IFC, Transport Ministry and Reserve Bank in Zimbabwe came to an agreement of intent to purchase five IL-96-400s. Now IFC is known to consider the possibility of aircraft delivery to Bulgaria but there are some difficulties regarding aircraft and engines certification in accordance with European standards.

(Source: “Kommersant” 18.05.06)