BAE Systems will offer Russian airlines the Avro RJ85 regional jetliner as an immediate replacement for ageing aircraft operated on domestic and regional routes. A fleet of 13 ex-Lufthansa RJ85s are coming back off-lease to BAE Systems beginning in March and continuing through to 2011. This particular variant is certificated under the Russian Interstate Aviation Committee airworthiness rules and so is capable of being operated in Russia and CIS countries.
Russian airlines have long recognised the value and utility of the