Vladivostok Air signed A-320 leasing agreement

The solemn ceremony was visited by First Primorye Vice-Governor Alexander Kostenko, Vladivostok Avia First Deputy Director General Igor Bagelfer, International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) Vice-President Philip Scruggs, Phoenix Project Management Ltd. (PPM) Executive Director Peter Smith and Primorye intermediaries.

Vladivostok Air has joined more than two hundred of companies operating Airbus aircrafts all over the world.

Airbus A-320-212 leased by the airline has comfortable business and economy class seatings able to accommodate 150 passengers (12 and 138 respectively) and is equipped with two CFM International CFM56-5A3 engines. Initially Vladivostok Air is going to operate A-320 for both Vladivostok — Seoul — Bangkok, Vladivostok — Niigata, Vladivostok — Hanoi international flights and Vladivostok — Novosibirsk — Krasnodar, Vladivostok — Irkutsk, Vladivostok — Yakutsk domestic flights.

Airbus A-320 is a leader of the popular narrow-fuselage Airbus aircrafts family, which includes A318, A319, A320 and A321 with capacity of 100 to 200 seats. The aircrafts have similar airframes, cockpit layouts, airplane systems and engines and differ with the fuselage length only. A-320 operation will enable Vladivostok Air to save a lot of money due to the aircraft efficiency, desired flying range and relatively low maintenance cost.

Airbus A-320 takes advantage of up-to-date engineering solutions such as weight reducing composite structures, fuel-efficient aerodynamic design, ergonomic flight deck, aircraft control and airplane systems.

In August 2006 Vladivostok Air crews will start training at Airbus Training Center in Toulouse (France). Vladivostok Air is going to acquire 6 more aircrafts A-320. Scheduled delivery date for the first aircraft is November 2006, the second is scheduled for March 2007, two more for 2008 and the other two for 2009.