Are 40 historically unreliable jets worth access to valuable airspace that would allow low-cost flights between Europe and Asia? That’s the question Norwegian is pondering.
Norwegian is considering a lease of Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100) aircraft for operations within Europe and Argentina. These mid-size aircraft are larger than a regional jet but smaller than Airbus A320s or Boeing 737s, with seating for up to 98 passengers.
The SSJ100 has a mixed safety record, but is widely used throughout the Russian Federation. Other airlines, like Mexico’s Interjet, have struggled with the SSJ100, though Interjet’s broader fiscal and operational woes may also be to blame. The SSJ100 has experienced three hull loss accidents resulting in 86 deaths, including an incident on Aeroflot earlier this year.
> Read More: 41 Killed in Aeroflot Crash
Why Would Norwegian Buy 40 Sukhoi Superjet 100s?
One Mile at a Time (accurately) calls it a quid pro quo. It’s true: Norwegian would lease these aircraft and in exchange gain access to Siberian airspace. That airspace is traditionally very restricted and very expensive. But access would allow Norwegian to embark upon a new phase of flying between Europe and North Asia, potentially disrupting lucrative markets that have thus far been insulated from low-cost entrants.
That may be the primary reason, but I also see a potential upside in Europe too. With the 737 MAX fleet still grounded indefinitely, Norwegian has had to cut back on several intra-European routes. 200 passengers on the 737MAX versus 100 passengers on the SSJ100 are clearly not interchangeable, but the SSJ100 should be able to fill the hole on key feeder flights to/from Norwegian’s longhaul hubs.
CONCLUSION
Personally, I think the move is brilliant…if the SSJ100 prove operationally reliable. That’s the looming question. But perhaps that is a risk worth taking for access to new markets and the ability to restore some European flights otherwise impossible without the 737MAX fleet.
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This should be incredibly embarrassing for Boeing. The Max issue represents an existential crisis for Boeing — and the U.S. economy — that nobody is taking seriously enough.
I have a problem with this airliner’s lack of over-wing emergency exits. 41 people would not have died in the Russia crash if those seated in the back and middle of the plane had not been forced to try to escape through the two forward exits. (The two rear exits were already enveloped in flames.) Not adding over-wing exits was a cost-saving decision by Sukhoi that cost lives.
Hopefully, if Norwegian buys Superjet 100’s, they will insist that Sukhoi install life-saving over-wing exits.
They should worry about about the flights they have already. And not use third rate airlines and rob paying customers. I had a return flight from Orlando in October and I was on the worst plane I have ever been on I will never use this airline again
lol why ? Why was it so bad?