Breaking even… soon

The Antonov An-148 Russo-Ukrainian regional jet first entered the Russian market in 2009, but it isn’t expected to start bringing revenues to its launch operator Rossiya — Russian Airlines until next year. The An-148 production rates remain lower than planned, while potential new customers insist that the airliner is turning out to be too expensive. The Russian and Ukrainian manufacturers are looking at ways to decrease production costs, bearing in mind the importance of the program as a consolidation drive for the two countries’ aerospace sectors.

The 70-seat regional jet, developed by the Ukrainian specialist Antonov, was certified by the CIS-wide Interstate Aviation Committee and by the aviation authorities of Ukraine in 2007. Antonov has expanded the airliner’s operating envelope in the past few years, certifying it for operations from unpaved runways and for ICAO Category IIIA landings.

The first prototypes were assembled in Kiev, but for the An-148 promotion to the Russian market it was agreed to launch license production locally at the Voronezh-based VASO facility, which is a subsidiary of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC). VASO builds An-148s in cooperation with a number of Ukrainian manufacturers. Antonov’s facilities in Kiev and Kharkov manufacture most of the fuselage and also the center wing section, whereas VASO is responsible for the tail section, wing devices, engine nacelles, and some of the fuselage sections. Final assembly is made in Voronezh.