MOSCOW, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Russia will need 644 new aircraft by 2030 to meet its aviation sector's requirements, Russian Transport Minister Andrei Nikitin said Friday.
Speaking at the "Innovations. Technologies. Production" Forum, Nikitin said that the requirement includes four long-range, 332 medium-range, 98 short-range, and 210 regional and local aircraft.
He noted that Russia's current passenger fleet consists of 1,089 aircraft, including 689 foreign-made and 391 domestic planes.
Major carriers are already moving to secure new models. State-owned flagship carrier Aeroflot has contracted for 18 MS-21 jets and is in negotiations for 182 more, while S7 Airlines is finalizing a deal for 100 Tu-214 aircraft.
"We have a huge demand for Russian-made aircraft that must be met," Nikitin said. "It is not enough to simply build the planes; we must also provide full maintenance and repair services, which presents a massive challenge."
The forum is being held in the city of Rybinsk in Yaroslavl region on Thursday and Friday.
