Orenburzhye Airlines (ORG, Orenburg) is considering using Embraer Regional Jets to anchor its fleet expansion plans.
According to ATO.ru, airline management told Vestirama news the Orenburg-based carrier is currently deciding on whether to lease in three 97-seater Embraers as it prepares to expand into foreign markets. This spring, Orenburzhye will offer services to Tbilisi, Batumi, and Kutaisi in Georgia. A concept for the start of flights to Kazakhstan and North China has also been drawn up, they said.
Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) indicates Orenburzhye is owned by Orenburg Airport and operates nine Let 410UVP-E20s, five An-2s, three Mi-2 helicopters, one Mi-8P, and two Mi-8Ts on regular passenger flights throughout the Volga and Southern Urals regions.
In terms of previous expansion plans that never came to fruition, Orenburzhye had planned to acquire three An-148-100s from the Antonov Design Bureau (ADB, Gostomel) in 2015 (rejected owing to a production backlog at Antonov) and three E195s (rejected due to the devaluation of the ruble). In light of the second occurrence, Orenburzhye then signed a Letter of Intent with GTLK - State Transport Leasing for eight SSJ 100/95s in late 2015. This, however, has yet to be firmed.
