S7 Airlines takes delivery of new Boeing 737-800NG

S7 Airlines has taken delivery of its first new Boeing Next Generation 737- 800. The airplane, painted in the livery of S7 Airlines, was transferred to S7 directly from the Boeing plant in Seattle. The airplane has been received by Globus Airlines, which operates flights under the S7 Airlines brand, under lease from Cramington Aviation Limited.

“This airplane is the first new Boeing Next Generation 737-800* in Russia. In May, here at the plant in Seattle, we’re going to acquire another new airliner of the same type. S7 Airlines passengers will be able to experience all the advantages of these modern airplanes this summer,” said Globus Airlines CEO Alexander Steblin at official delivery ceremony in Seattle.

“Boeing is delighted to deliver the first Next-Generation 737-800 to S7 Group and Globus Airlines,” said Marty Bentrott, vice president of Sales for Russia, Central Asia and Middle East for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “This is a momentous occasion for Boeing as it marks the first 737-800 delivery to Russia directly from our production line. We are honored to transfer this great airplane to our important customer and are confident that S7 Group employees and passengers will enjoy its efficiency, reliability and comfort. We look forward to strengthening our strategic partnership and supporting S7’s fleet growth and business expansion.”

After some legal formalities, the airplane will be dispatched to Moscow Domodedovo Airport, after which it will begin to operate flights to Novosibirsk, Yakutsk, Ulan-Ude, Chita, Norilsk, Krasnodar, Sochi and other cities of S7’s route network. The airplane will have a first commercial flight in May.

S7 placed an order for new Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 airplanes in 2006. This spring, the company will receive two airliners of ten specified in the contract.

Boeing 737 Next Generation family are modern airliners with improved characteristics compared with previous modifications. They have an extended range and greater carrying capacity. The winglets of the Next-Generation 737-800 reduce fuel consumption due to lower thrust during cruising, and as a consequence optimize engine maintenance costs and reduce harmful emissions. The airliner is designed to carry 160 passengers—12 in business class and 148 in economy class. The German company Recaro provided modern seats that make flying as comfortable as can be.

S7 Airlines currently has one of the most modern and youngest fleets in Russia. Airline operates aircrafts from the leading manufacturers Airbus and Boeing. S7 Airlines’ fleet consists of 41 airplanes—20 Airbus A319s, 9 Airbus A320s, one Airbus A310, two long-range Boeing 767-300s, four Boeing 737-400s and five Boeing 737-800NGs.

• Length of the airplane: 39.5 m, cruising speed: 850 km/h, maximum range: 5665 km. The airliner is equipped with CFM56-7 engines and its maximum take off weight is 79.010 metric tons.

The airlines of S7 Group (www.s7.ru) – Sibir and Globus—operate flights under the S7 Airlines brand and are participants in the oneworld® global airline alliance. S7 Airlines is Russia’s leading airline in terms of the number of passengers carried within Russia (based on 2010 results).

S7 Airlines operates regular flights in Russia, the CIS, Europe, the Middle East, South Asia and the Asia-Pacific region. S7 Airlines has the most modern and one of the youngest fleets in Russia.

Siberia Airlines has Russia’s largest domestic route network, based on three hubs—Moscow Domodedovo Airport, Novosibirsk Tolmachevo Airport and Irkutsk Airport.

In 2007 the company became Russia’s second airline to pass the IATA Operational Safety Audit.

S7 Airlines is one of Russia’s most stable airlines, incorporating the latest achievements of the world industry in the servicing of passengers and actively expanding its service.

For the year 2010, S7 Airlines won the Wings of Russia Award for Best Business Project in Russian Civil Aviation. The airline has also won the annual People’s Brand / Brand #1 in Russia award.

Globus Airlines operates regular flights in Russia, the CIS and Europe. In 2009 and 2010 the company was on more than one occasion awarded a Quality Certificate from Moscow Domodedovo Airport for on-time performance.