Russia, Cuba agree on new aircraft deliveries — deputy PM
Cuba’s aircraft fleet is largely equipped with Russian-made planes
KAZAN, April 22. /TASS/. Russia and Cuba have reached an agreement on new aircraft deliveries, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said following the 13th inter-governmental Russian-Cuban Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation.
"We have agreed today on new deliveries of modern Russian aircraft to the Cuban market. There may be deliveries to other countries’ markets as well," he said.
Rogozin recalled that Cuba’s aircraft fleet was equipped with Russian-made planes, adding that Cuba and Cubana Airlines demonstrated successful commercial realization of Russian aircraft.
Commenting on the statements that Russian planes were allegedly non-competitive, Rogozin suggested taking a look at Cuba, "which makes money by operating and maintaining Russian aircraft."
Speaking about the initiative by the President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov who suggested organizing the assembly of Ansat helicopters in Cuba with a view of promoting them to the markets in Central and Latin America, Rogozin noted that the helicopter was equipped with engines produced by White&Whitney, so the certification issue would be easy to resolve.