The An-148 registration RA-61701 operated by State Transport Company “Rossiya” has performed its first Flight FV189 on the central timetable, carrying passengers from the airline’s main hub in Pulkovo of St. Petersburg to Moscow’s Domododovo Airport. The airplane represents a new generation of regional jets built in Russia at Voronezh plant (VASO), a member of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC). Three days earlier the type commenced revenue services into Moscow-Sheremetievo. Opening of revenue services on the new type was the topic for a press conference held in Domodedovo airport.

Addressing the audience, Vladimir Smolko said: “Today is a very important day for me and my colleagues with whom I started working on the An-148 project four years ago. Our efforts have led to opening of revenue services. This provides a piece of evidence for the fact that the United Aircraft Corporation is capable of not only making experimental flying vehicles, but also commercial airplanes that help both aircraft manufacturers and our airline customers make money.

Firm order book for the An-148 stands at fifty units and further seventy are being contracted. Next year we will see export deliveries and deliveries to the special air detachment serving the President of the Russian Federation. I hope that my collegues with the Polet airline based in Voronezh will also receive two aircraft and commence successful operations next year. This aircraft has a bright future. It is not simply one model, but a whole family of aircraft, including baseline model for 75 passengers in a single-class cabin, extended version with 99 seats and cargo variants.

The aircraft is developed by the Aviation Scientific Industrial Complex named after Antonov. This is a very potent design team, famous throughout the whole world for outstanding aircraft designs. This new airplane suits Russia well, with the country’s distances, climate, network of routes and airports. I have no doubt that the An-148 project will be a success not just for the United Aircraft Corporation, but also for the airlines that select the type for renovation of their fleet.”

 In his turn, Yuri Grudinin added: “Today, more airframes of the An-148 initial production batch are being completed at the Voronezh plant. We will gradually increase production rates to meet the growing demand for these aircraft from airlines and state structures. Negotiations with local and foreign customers interested in buying An-148s are held literally every day. Our plans for immediate future call for adding a version with English-language cockpit. This will further expand the market for the An-148”.