Red Wings Airlines (WZ, Moscow Domodedovo) could take delivery of two Tu-204SMs as early as next year the airline's Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Evgeny Klyucharev, has said. According to Russian Aviation, while two Tu-204SM testbeds have already been assembled, it remains to be seen whether Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) regulatory officials will allow the aircraft to be used for commercial operations.

Tupolev Design Bureau (Zhukovsky) schematics show the Tu-204SM is an improved version of the Tu-204-300 whose upgraded avionics and engines are largely aimed at meeting current and future Russian and international standards.

As an interim measure, Klyucharev said his airline could phase in six former Vladivostok Air (Vladivostok) Tu-204-300s as early as this month.

"We need these jets in summer in order to launch new flights to Crimea; there is no point in purchasing the liners in September," he said.

The CCO also alluded to his airline's interest in the SSJ 100/95 from Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (Zhukovsky) as well as the An-158 from Antonov Design Bureau (Gostomel) for use in expanding its domestic presence.