S7 Airlines held a Directors meeting on September 8, 2008 approving a program of fleet renewal.
Within the framework program S7 Airlines will withdraw Soviet made aircraft – Tupolev–154 and Ilyushin–86 from operations by 11/1/2008. Removal of these technologically obsolete planes from S7 service is driven by poor operational and environmental performance.
To maintain its flagship status of largest domestic carrier, S7 Airlines will modernize its entire fleet. The world´s top aircraft manufacturers will deliver more than 70 new airplanes by 2014 to S7.
In 2008 S7 Airlines received four new Airbus A320 airliners two more will follow by end of year. Three Boeing 737–800NG began operation in August, a further five will be operational before year–end.
In the same period seven more Boeings: two Boeing 737–400 and five long–range Boeing 767–300ER will be delivered.
In 2009 the S7 fleet will be expanded with four Airbus A320, two Boeing 737–800NG and two Boeing 767–300ER -airplanes.
25 new A320 will start being delivered in 2009 according to a contract announced by S7 Airlines and Airbus at Le–Bourget. S7 Airlines concluded contracts for delivery of ten Boeings 737–800NG starting 2010, and delivery of fifteen Boeing 787 Dreamliner - starting 2014. S7 Airlines will become the first Russian operator of Boeing Dreamliners.
"Taking into account current deliveries of aircrafts and the fact that the removal from operations of Soviet airplanes will be executed in a period of seasonal fall of passenger traffic, S7 Airlines does not expect a decrease in the volume of operations. We are currently in negotiations with leasing companies on additional deliveries of airplanes", – said S7 CEO Vladislav Filev.
S7 Airlines (www.s7.ru) is the leading Russian domestic carrier and is among the TOP–50 world air carriers.
In 2007 the company was included in the IOSA register (IATA Operational Safety Audit) by IATA becoming the second air carrier in Russia to successfully pass a full international audit procedure for compliance with standards of operating safety.
S7 Airlines is a leading and stable airline, operating to the latest standards of global passenger service. S7 Airlines won the National Award "People´s Brand /Brand No.1 in Russia" in 2007.
