OREANDA-NEWS. April 12, 2011. Ural Airlines continues its aircraft fleet re-equipment. Today the airline has received another Airbus A321 airplane, which will be operated under an operating lease agreement. The plane arrived from Ireland, where it had been flown by Aer Lingus. Thus, the total number of Airbus planes in the airline's fleet has reached 15 (12 A320's and 3 A321's). The new aircraft has a large capacity of 220 economy-class seats upholstered with genuine leather. Airbuses have the advantage of having the most spacious cabins among all narrow-bodies; their cabins are also considered the least noisy and the best lit ones.

According to Sergei Shkuro, Deputy Commercial Director for Marketing, the new airplane will be used for scheduled highly-loaded services, and also for charters. "We are seeing our charter program partners' demand for large-capacity airplanes. The new A321 will certainly enable us to expand our charter program, adding new flights. Besides, the services to CIS countries are highly loaded at present, and we can use the plane there as well," says Mr. Shkuro.

You probably remember that the aircraft fleet re-equipment plan envisages acquisition of four Airbuses (three A321's and one A320) just in the first half of 2011.