Another Russian airline, Yakutia, began SSJ 100 operations at the end of January. Yakutia’s two SSJ 100s are configured in a 93-seat twin-class cabin layout (eight seats in business class, 85 in economy). The East Siberia-based carrier faces harsh winters, so the performance of its SSJ 100s is likely to differ from that of Aeroflot’s, which operate in the milder central regions of Russia. In December 2012 the Commonwealth of Independent States’ (CIS) Interstate Aviation Committee issued a supplemental type certificate verifying SSJ 100 operations in northern latitudes at temperatures up to 78F and down to -54C.

The launch customer for the SSJ 100, Yerevan, Armenia-based Armavia, is unlikely to resume operations of its only aircraft of the type. It was delivered to the Armenian flag carrier in April 2011. In summer 2012, Sukhoi refused to return the aircraft from a maintenance check, stating that the carrier was severely in arrears. The matter is still in dispute.

Nevertheless, more foreign airlines are to start SSJ 100 operations this year. Sky Aviation ordered 12 aircraft while Lao Central signed for three aircraft with an option for six more. Type certification for the aircraft was issued in Indonesia in November 2012, followed by Laos in December.

Two green SSJ 100s intended for Mexican carrier Interjet are being completed in Venice by the Russian-Italian joint venture SuperJet International, the entity responsible for sales in Western markets.

Sukhoi plans to increase the annual rate of SSJ 100 deliveries to 30 aircraft in 2013 and to 60 in 2014. In 2012 the company rolled out 12 airframes and delivered seven. The official backlog stands at 179 aircraft. Plans are to certify the Sukhoi Business Jet version by the end of 2014.