OREANDA-NEWS. UTair Aviation has received the fourth Airbus A321, in accordance with a contract for 20 such aircraft to be produced and delivered between 2013 and 2016.

According to the contract, the A321 aircraft are equipped with CFM56-5B engines and feature a single-class cabin layout seating 220 passengers. All aircraft are equipped with ergonomic Pinnacle seats for passenger comfort.

UTair operates these aircraft on international and domestic routes with high passenger traffic.

UTair plans to continue its fleet renewal program in 2014 with 22 new aircraft entering the UTair fleet, including eight Airbus 321, sixSukhoi Superjet 100 and eight Boeing 737-800/900 NG aircraft. This will be the most significant fleet renewal among Russian airlines within the calendar year.

UTair Aviation is the core enterprise of UTair Group and consists of companies performing aircraft operations with fixed and rotary wing aircraft as well as enterprises offering MRO, personnel training, flight services and air transportation sales services. The Group includes UTair-Express, UTair-Ukraine, Turuhan Airlines, UTair-Helicopter services, Vostok Airlines, Helisur, UTair Europe, UTair South Africa and UTair India as well as UTair-Technik, UTair-Engineering and other enterprises. UTair Group headquarters are located in Surgut. The airline operates more than 150 fixed wing aircraft and 350 helicopters. In 2012 UTair aircraft transported 9,385,398 passengers, 24.3% more than in 2011. UTair Group passenger turnover demonstrated YoY growth of 29.4% in 2012 and achieved a combined 16,072,900,200 PKM. Group Helicopters' flight hours increased by 19.2% and achieved 166,400 hours.

The A320 aircraft family, comprising the A318, A319, A320 and A321 models, is setting standards for cost-efficiency and comfort in the narrow-body aircraft segment. These aircraft have the widest cabin and the lowest fuel consumption in their class for passenger transport. To date, Airbus has sold over 9,600 A320 aircraft and delivered 5,600 A320 to 385 customers and operators worldwide. In addition, due to increased intervals between required maintenance operations, these aircraft offer operators the lowest operational costs for aircraft in their category.