Iran Airtour confirms order for five Tu-204s

Iran Airtour confirmed its order for five Tu-204s - with options for 25 more – at the MAKS air show in Moscow. It converted the order from -100s to the upgraded Tu-204SM version, but postponed delivery to 2011.

Also at the show, the Iranian transport ministry has held talks with Tupolev parent United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) on licence-production of 100 Tu-204SMs at HESA in Esfahan, abandoning earlier plans for Iranian production to include a mix of the -100 variant.

The SM differs from the -100 with more advanced Perm PS-90A2 turbofans replacing earlier PS-90As and a lighter structure that reduces empty operating weight from 63t to 60t, assuming 210 economy-class passengers. The SM maintains maximum take-off weight at 105t, with an option to go to 111t, which would increase the full-cabin range to from 4,500km (2,430nm) from 3,680km and cut operating expenses by 10-15%.

The MAKS air show also saw the debut public appearance of the first ever VIP Tu-204, the RA-64010. The aircraft, built in the mid-1990s as a Tu-204-100, has been reworked by its maker Aviastar-SP into a shrunk -300A version, with added fuel tanks.

UAC secured a number of deals at the event which amount to 36 orders for Tupolev Tu-204s and derivatives, with 26 options, and six orders for Ilyushin Il-96s and derivatives with one option.