OREANDA-NEWS. September 16, 2009. Four medium-range Boeing 737- 500 aircraft started their en-route service in August and September 2009 under JSC UTair Aviation aircraft fleet modernization program. At present UTair fleet numbers 13 aircraft of this brand.

The aircraft leasing agreement was realized by means of the targeted credit provided by Export Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) that is one of the most powerful west credit agencies. Before accrediting UTair for leasing aircraft Ex-Im Bank carried out an all-round audit of the airline and its affiliates, which proved UTair to have a high credit rating. In August 2009 the world-wide known finance company ING Wholesale, UTair’s adviser on the deal, announced all the financial arrangements to be successfully completed. This went along with the delivery of the first liner to Russia.

Deliveries of Boeing 737-500 aircraft to UTair will continue this year – three more aircraft are planned to be put into commercial service in September and October. By the end of the year the number of Boeing 737-500 aircraft in the fleet will reach 16.

UTair has been operating Boeing 737-500 aircraft since 2008. For the entire operating period UTair Boeing liners have carried out over 9.5 thousand flights with 800 thousand passengers on board. The medium-range fleet improvement allows UTair to defy competition at the passenger transportation market, enlarging the volume of transportation and expanding the horizons for new flights.