Russian aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company (SCAC) has moved a step closer to extending its slender Asian customer base with the signing a letter of intent (LoI) with Thailand’s start-up Kom Airlines, which is considering the acquisition of six Superjet 100 aircraft and aims to confirm a firm order in 2019.

• As with other recent deals for the Russian regional jet, SCAC is proposing to add maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) support for the operator.
• The LoI was signed during a December 27 visit to Thailand of Denis Manturov, Russia’s minister of industry and trade. According to the terms of the accord, the aircraft are to be delivered in the 2019-2020 period if, as anticipated, the agreement is turned into a firm order in the first half of 2019, a SCAC statement reads.
• Kom Airlines is reportedly interested in the 100-seat single economy class configuration of the Superjet and is considering using the aircraft for both domestic and international services in the region.