FLEET - Cubana received its second long-range aircraft, an IL-96-300, which was repaired in Russia over the last 14 months.

Photo: Flyingphotos
 

CUBANA - IL96-300 - T1251

José Ramon Valero - MAD

ROSSIYA - IL96 - RA-96023

João Luis Pessoa - Lisboa

Cubana to acquire an ex-Aeroflot Il-96

Photo:Sergey Kustov - Russia

Cubana will take delivery of RA-96008 (cn 74393201005), an Il-96 formerly with Aeroflot. ~
The agreement, Russia's ATO news reports, was facilitated by Russia's Ilyushin Finance Co. though no official confirmation has yet been heard.

 Citing the aircraft's growing inefficiency both in terms of cost overheads and fuel consumption, Aeroflot retired the type from its fleet in March this year.

Cubana operates a fleet of three IL-96s on domestic flights as well as on flights from Havana Int'l to Buenos Aires Ezeiza, Caracas Simón Bolivar, Madrid Barajas, and Paris Orly.

AEROFLOT Plans Final Scheduled Il96 Service on 30MAR14

AEROFLOT on 30MAR14 is scheduled to operate final Ilyushin Il96 scheduled operation, operating Tashkent – Moscow Shremetyevo route. The Skyteam member introduced this aircraft in 1993, which mainly operates Moscow – New York JFK route in Winter 1993/94 season.

Operational schedule on 30MAR14 as follow.
SU1871 TAS0430 – 0800SVO IL9

Planned Ilyushin Il96 final scheduled operation remains subject to change.
Routes Online

Photo:Ton Jochems - AYT

Aeroflot reconsiders its Il-96 fleet's immediate future

Aeroflot is considering fast-tracking the retirement of its fleet of six Il-96s in the wake of the recent Tatarstan Air crash at Kazan Int'l. Quoting unnamed sources, Russia's Kommersant says Aeroflot's board was forced to reconsider its plans for the Il-96 after politician's called for the Russian government to ban all commercial aircraft over twenty years of age from operating in Russia. While no precise law has been yet been passed, the Il-96s woes were further compounded by reports of soaring maintenance and fuel costs. The board also found that 40% of all Aeroflot's complaints via social media pertain to the interior of the Il-96. The Russian national carrier is angling to reposition itself as a premium airline with a maximum average fleet age of 5.5 years. In the long-term, it is speculated, Aeroflot would likely attempt to sell the aircraft to Cubana (CU, Havana Int'l), the only other operator of the type, though Russian aviation officials have expressed doubt that this will happen. ch-aviation
Photo;Ton Jochems - AYT

ROSSIYA RUSSIAN AIRLINES - IL-96, RA-96017

Ton Jochems - AMS

AEROFLOT - IL96, RA-96011

Ton Jochems - AYT

AEROFLOT - IL96-300, RA-96015

Ton Jochemens - AYT