MOSCOW, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Three Russia-made Il-114-300 jets are expected to be delivered in 2026, Russia's Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Gennady Abramenkov said Friday.
According to him, air carriers expect the aircraft to operate on routes in Russia's Far East, Siberia, and northern regions, where airports have limited infrastructure and face harsh weather conditions.
Abramenkov said the plane's manufacturer, United Aircraft Corporation, part of Russia's state-owned aviation giant Rostec, is working with aviation and leasing companies to develop a financial model for the aircraft's operation.
The Il-114-300, a modernized version of the Il-114 turboprop airliner, is intended to replace aging An-24 aircraft as well as foreign-made regional jet models. Designed for local and regional routes, it can operate from short and unpaved runways and is suited for remote and Arctic regions. ■