Russia's Irkut aircraft maker capped the first four days of the Farnborough International Air Show by signing a deal Thursday on the sale of 50 of its new MS-21 passenger airliners.
The contract with Malaysian transportation holding company CRECOM Burj Resources, the largest post-Soviet sale of Russia-made new generation planes abroad, brings to 140 the total number of deliveries agreed during the air show near London, which runs July 19-25.
Russian leasing company Ilyushin Finance signed a memorandum of intent to buy 28 MS-21 planes from Irkut with an option for another 22 aircraft.
Another memorandum of intent on the purchase of 15 MS-21 jets with an option for 15 more planes was signed with Russia's VEB-leasing company.
Several other companies also signed memorandums of intent to buy MS-21 planes from Irkut.
The MS-21 twinjet, which is still under development, is to replace the aging Tu-154, which currently accounts for the lion's share of passenger traffic in Russia and the CIS. It is also expected to compete with the Airbus A-320 and Boeing 737.
RIA Novosti
