OREANDA-NEWS. December 5, 2007. UTair Aviation (UTair Aviation JSC) has announced a tender for the supply of commercial civil jet aircraft to replace 35 Tupolev Tu-134 planes that are currently in use. The tender is being held as part of UTair's program on fleet renewal.

The tender committee consists of UTair's members of the Supervisory Board and the executive body. The committee, in cooperation with jet manufacturers, leasing companies, and banks, will determine the type of aircraft and the financing of the deal.

UTair Aviation is planning to purchase more than 30 regional jet aircraft until 2014, and is considering jets produced in Russia and abroad, such as the SSJ 100/95, Tu-334, An-148, ARJ-21/700, Bombardier CRJ-700, and the Embraer ERJ-170, among others.

UTair is among Russia's largest air carriers. In 2007, the airline is planning to transport more than 3 million passengers, including 600,000 people on domestic flights. The company was among the first Russian airlines to modernize its regional fleet. In particular, it is in the process of a gradual replacement of Russian Yak-40 and An-24 planes with European ATR-42s, by bringing their number up to 15 in 2008.