“Roskosmos” and the structure of “Gazprom” can purchase two Tu-204 for business transportation

According to Kommersant, Roskosmos and the structure of Gazprom became interested in restoring dismantled Tu-204 aircraft for business transportation. Roskosmos confirmed its interest in the purchase, noting that it is needed to transport personnel to spaceports. Restoration and conversion of aircraft to the VIP version are estimated by Kommersant’s interlocutors in the industry at 3.5-4 billion rubles. In addition to the direct acquisition, Kommersant’s interlocutors for the second client allow the involvement of Red Wings as an operator. Kommersant’s sources assess the commercial effectiveness of the Tu-204 as low compared to foreign competitors, but note that now Russian customers may not have a choice.

As it became known to Kommersant, Roskosmos and the structure of Gazprom can purchase two Tu-204 aircraft. The aircraft belong to IFC, a leasing company that is part of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC, part of Rostec), and are out of airworthiness. According to the interlocutors of Kommersant, we are talking about the restoration of liners in the VIP version for the transportation of top managers.

According to two Kommersant sources in the industry, two options are possible: a direct sale or the provision of operator services by Red Wings (part of IFC), in the latter case, the aircraft will most likely remain the property of IFC.

IFK has been selling these aircraft since 2021. Before the sanctions, market participants doubted the possibility of finding a buyer for them, but since 2022 the situation has changed, as it has become much more difficult to service foreign business jets. Now IFC still has two Tu-204-300s manufactured in 2004-2005, which were operated by Vladivostok Air, and one more airliner was handed over to Red Wings in November 2022. One interlocutor of Kommersant estimates the cost of restoring the aircraft at 2 billion rubles, three others at 3.5–4 billion rubles, including 1 billion rubles for the VIP lounge. The work will take place at the UZGA-Engineering site in Ulyanovsk and should be completed in 2024. IFC also has two Tu-204-100s and three Tu-214s. For their restoration with two Il-96s in 2022, 15.3 billion rubles were allocated from the budget.

The press service of Roskosmos confirmed that the state corporation is working on the issue of acquiring a “used Tu-204 or Tu-214.” Negotiations are still ongoing, and it will also take time to restore the airworthiness of the aircraft, so it is premature to talk about delivery dates. Roskosmos does not plan to transfer the aircraft to the management of commercial carriers, since it includes the Yu. A. Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (CTC), “which has all the competencies necessary for the flight and technical operation of Tu-204/214 ships “.

Since 2019, the TsPK fleet has had two 15-year-old Tu-204-300s. The CPC ordered them back in 2014 for 3.3 billion rubles. and received in the spring of 2019. Their layout is adapted for transporting spacecraft crews to the launch site and evacuation from the landing site. “This capacity (about 50 seats) is not enough to transport members of state commissions, task forces, launch crews, employees of state corporation enterprises to ensure work at the Baikonur and Vostochny cosmodromes,” Roscosmos explained. less than 140 seats in a standard two-class layout.”

Rostec reported that “it will be possible to discuss the deals when they take place.” A Kommersant source in the aircraft industry said that “discussions are really underway, but there are no specific agreements yet.” Gazprom Avia, which operates the Gazprom fleet, said that such a project was not considered, Gazprom Neft indicated that there were no such plans.

Red Wing confirmed to Kommersant that they were negotiating “with many future owners of these aircraft on their operation under the flag of the airline,” but did not disclose the names. They also noted that the carrier specializes in corporate VIP transportation based on the Tu-204, the company “has crews and all the necessary maintenance competencies.” The Red Wings announced the abandonment of the Tu family aircraft in 2018, explaining this by low fuel efficiency. Now there is one Tu-204-300 (18 years old, entered in November 2022) and one Tu-204-100 (29 years old, entered in 2020) in the fleet, both of them actively fly, including abroad.

According to the interlocutors of “Kommersant” in the business aviation market, now in the range of 3.5-4 billion rubles. you can purchase a Bombardier Global 6000 (Canada) at the age of five to ten years, depending on the raid, condition and interior equipment. “It is difficult, but realistic, to deliver the aircraft through intermediaries,” one of Kommersant’s sources says. According to the head of the BizavNews project Dmitry Petrochenko, for an amount of up to 4 billion rubles. you can find a ten-year-old Boeing Business Jet (BBJ1) or ACJ 320 (the corporate version of Airbus). But to put them in the Russian Federation, in his opinion, is almost impossible: “These are extremely liquid liners that are difficult to find on the secondary market and import into the Russian Federation.”

Kommersant’s interlocutors agree that the Tu-204 is commercially less efficient than foreign counterparts, “requires a three-member crew, is fuel-consuming and specific in terms of runway requirements.” At the same time, a number of sources also note that as the ruble weakens, interest in buying the remaining used Russian aircraft may increase.

Aigul Abdullina