On the occasion of ALTA Airlines Leaders Forum, held in Panama City, SuperJet International – joint venture between Alenia Aermacchi and Sukhoi Holding – announced that the Mexican airline Interjet, first SSJ100 western customer, added 10 options to its current firm order for 20 SSJ100 aircraft.

Based on the aircraft list price, the total Interjet order has a potential value of over 1 billion dollars, including options.

The first “green“ Interjet SSJ100 landed at Venice Marco Polo airport (Italy) on October 6th 2012 for completion and customization at SuperJet International’s facility. The Company is currently developing the EASA STC, Supplemental Type Certification, for the interiors’ installation, which will be branded by Pininfarina Italian Style.

SJI plans to deliver the first Interjet SSJ100 in March 2013 with a consequent delivery-rate of one aircraft per month.

Originally Interjet signed a contract for the purchase of 15 SSJ100 aircraft with a configuration of 93 seats plus 5 options. During the last Farnborough Airshow Mr. Miguel Aleman Velasco, Chairman of Interjet announced the decision of the airline to convert its five options into firm orders, thus bringing to 20 the number of firm aircraft. Now the Customer extends the agreement covering the 10 additional options.

“This new agreement confirms the solid relationship we have established with Interjet since the signature of our deal and it proves the strong belief of the Customer in the SSJ100 product and services – states Nazario Cauceglia, Chief Executive Officer of SuperJet International – We are currently working in Venice to grant a first-class service and we are also confident that these 10 options will be soon converted into firm orders”.

The SSJ100 aircraft, developed and built by Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company (SCAC), a Sukhoi and Alenia Aermacchi Company, is a technologically advanced regional aircraft which provides the maximum efficiency in the high altitude/high temperature typical of Mexico and fits with Interjet’s high operational and customer service standards.

In April 2012 the SSJ100 received the Mexican Certification confirming its compliance with the requirements of the Mexican Aviation Authority.

SuperJet International will be also in charge of training. By the end of November 2012 the first Full Flight Simulator (FFS) will arrive in Venice and it will be installed at the SJI Training Center to enable the Mexican carrier’s pilots to start training in January 2013.

The Sukhoi Superjet 100 is currently the most important industrial program between the Russian Federation and the rest of the world in the field of the civil aviation.