Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (Zhukovsky) has held talks with Hungary’s Ministry of National Development over a proposed new Hungarian national carrier whose initial fleet would consist of six SSJ 100/95s.

The semi-official Hirado news agency says talks between the two sides began in October last year with the Russians offering technical as well as financial support. Tasó László, Hungary's Minister of State for Transport Policy, says the proposal will be closely studied in light of the country's interests.

Hungary's last state-run national carrier - Malev (Budapest) - collapsed in 2012 after the European Commission (EC) ordered it to return approximately EUR130 million in illegal state aid. Since then, Wizz Air (W6, Budapest), a budget carrier whose key shareholders include US venture capital firm Indigo Partners, has largely filled the gap in the market left by Malev's demise.