Russia's Azimuth airline plans to acquire two more SJ-100s

ROSTOV-ON-DON. April 24 (Interfax) - Russia's Azimuth airline plans to acquire two more domestically produced Superjet 100 aircraft in the coming year, the CEO of JSC Regional Development Corporation (RDC, which owns 25% plus 2 shares of JSC Azimuth Airline) Mikhail Tikhonov said.

"The goal is to expand the aircraft fleet. Today there are 19 aircraft in operation, and there are plans to purchase two more in the coming year and continue developing," Tikhonov said at a meeting of the regional investment council chaired by the governor on Wednesday.

Currently, Azimuth's fleet consists of 20 SJ-100s, with one aircraft not in operation after a rough landing in Antalya in November last year. As reported, during its landing the aircraft experienced an unexpected wind shear. While the crew managed to keep the aircraft on the runway, fuel spilled from the tank and ignited. The incident is being investigated by Turkish aviation authorities, and the aircraft remains in that country. Upon completion of the investigation, it will be transported to Russia for further technical evaluation, the company said.

All Superjets in Azimuth's fleet contain foreign components and engines, the production of which was halted in 2022 after the imposition of anti-Russian sanctions. According to Russian aviation authorities, serial deliveries of an import-substituted version of the SJ-100 are expected to begin in 2026. These aircraft are currently undergoing testing.

Azimuth is projected to see growth in key financial indicators in 2025. According to Tikhonov's presentation, revenue may increase 18% to 34.4 billion rubles, and net profit may double to 1.465 billion rubles. It is planned that capital investment will rise 3.1-fold to 592 million rubles.

As reported, in 2024 the company set a new revenue record, increasing it 14.5% to 29.2 billion rubles, while net profit dropped 65.5% to 729 million rubles.

Azimuth is based at Platov Airport (Rostov-on-Don), as well as at the airports of Krasnodar and Mineralnye Vody. In 2024, the company transported 2.46 million passengers, up 6.5% compared to the previous year.

RDC is owned by the Rostov region. The corporation's activities are focused on monitoring the situation at coal industry enterprises, creating new production facilities to develop the region's industrial, agricultural and infrastructure potential, forming an information technology community at the Southern IT Park site, and cluster-based regional development.