VLM Airlines to introduce Superjet in Q3 2016

Antwerp-based regional carrier VLM Airlines, which last month launched several new scheduled routes with its Fokker 50 fleet, has announced that the Sukhoi Superjet 100 LR (SSJ100 LR) regional aircraft is to enter service with the airline in Q3 2016. Delivery of the aircraft to VLM is being postponed from April 2015 to enable the completion of EASA certification of features on the long-range variant, including takeoff and landing flaps settings, which are modified from the EASA-certified base model Superjet and which bring significant performance enhancements. The long-range capabilities of the aircraft are expected to be very beneficial to VLM, enabling the airline to add new, commercially attractive destinations to its expanding scheduled route network. Under a Letter of Intent signed in October 2014 with Ilyushin Finance Co., VLM has the option to lease up to four SSJ100 LRs and a further purchase option on ten aircraft.