Deputy Administrative Director of the United Eastern Airlines “Aurora” Dmitry Lysak announced that the first domestic regional airplanes LMS-901 “Baikal” may be received by the airline as early as 2025.
In accordance with the current delivery schedule, the first SSJ-100 New are expected to arrive in 2024. The current plan for 2024 is four aircraft and another four in 2025. The first five "Baikals" are expected to be delivered in 2025. Work is still underway on LMS-901 "Baikal" on the approval of the aircraft's design, technical parameters, and other delivery conditions. The agreement is expected to be signed after these terms are agreed by the parties, which may affect the delivery schedule.
LMS-901 “Baikal” will replace the Soviet airplane An-2 “Kukuruznik”. It has 9 seats, a cruising speed of 300 km/h, and a maximum flight range of 3,000 km.
The new aircraft will be included in the flight programme and tied to the opening of new routes as they are delivered and the sources financing these new routes are determined, whether they are commercial or socially significant with tariffs, subsidized by the government.