At the moment, the State Concern AZAL of Azerbaijan is considering the financial opportunities to acquire six airplanes from France for realizing flights within republic, Sabir Ilyasov, first deputy director-general of SC, told Trend. They will be small airplanes carrying 40-50 passengers. At present, this question is being considered. It is intended that the airplanes will be obtained from French company ATR.
These aircrafts are more effective by two times than other planes of the same class.
Besides, yet Azerbaijan hasnt officially refused to purchase planes from Ukraine, one of which was wrecked in December of last year. It may happen after the announcement of official conclusion regarding the reasons of the catastrophe.
Until clarification of the crash reasons, AZAL stopped the acquisition and exploitation of planes AH-140-100. The AH-140-100 planes were obtained in accordance with the contract signed between AZAL and Kharkov state aviation enterprise on July 8, 2004. The contract costs $36.4 million ($9.1 mln for each one of four planes).