Russian and Chinese firms form lessor for SSJ100

United Aircraft Corporation has confirmed that companies from Russia and China have joined forced to create a leasing firm aimed at supporting uptake of the Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100) in China and South East Asia. The agreement will see the lessor purchase up to 100 SSJ100s in the next three years in deals worth a total of $3bn. The agreement to create the lessor was signed by private equity company Russia-China Investment Fund, SSJ100 manufacturer Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company, the Xixian New Area Administrative Committee and Chinese lessor New Century International Leasing. The new leasing firm will be headquartered in the Sino-Russia High-Tech Innovation Park in Xixian, Shaanxi, where the local authority will also provide land for the accommodation and maintenance of the SSJ100 jets.