Syrianair (RB, Damascus) is reportedly evaluating placing an order for fifteen-twenty MC-21-300s, which it would be able to add despite US and European sanctions, Forbes has reported.
"In case the unjust sanctions from the West continue, we have alternative solutions to expand the company’s fleet with models manufactured by our friends in Russia. They have a new product called the MC-21, which is comparable to and outclasses similar models from Airbus and Boeing," CEO Talal Abdulkarim said.
He added that deliveries could commence in 2022. Abdulkarim also said that Irkut (Irkutsk Northwest) had assured Syrianair that the type with the locally-made Aviadvigatel PD-14 engines and having over 80% of Russian-made parts would not be subject to any sanctions on Syria.
According to the ch-aviation fleets module, Syrianair currently owns six A320-200s, which are on average 19.6-year-old. Of these, only two units are active with the remainder stored at Damascus, presumably due to a lack of spares. The airline also has one active, 18-year-old A340-300, two inactive ATR72-500s, three Il-76TDs, and three Tu-134B3s.
