Despite short-term plans to take over all of Aeroflot Group's B737-800s, Pobeda (DP, Moscow Sheremetyevo) is planning to eventually transition to a near all-Airbus narrowbody fleet, consisting of A321-200Ns, Russian Aviation Insider has reported, citing sources close to the holding.
Under its recently unveiled strategy, Pobeda, Aeroflot's low-cost carrier, is due to gradually take over all Boeing narrowbodies currently operated by its parent Aeroflot (SU, Moscow Sheremetyevo) and sister airline Rossiya (FV, St. Petersburg). This will increase its fleet from the current thirty-four B737-800s to 75, taking into account planned retirements of some of the aircraft currently operated by Aeroflot (50) and Rossiya (nine).
The airline also has twenty B737-8s on orders from lessors, although it recently launched a tender for legal advise regarding the possible cancellation of 15 of the aircraft. Under the current schedule, subject to the recertification of the type, up to 18 units would be delivered in 2021.
However, starting in 2023, the LCC is due to start adding A321neo in order to lower unit costs thanks to their larger capacity in comparison to the B737-800s and MAX 8s. The airline plans to take eleven A321neo in 2023 and increase the Airbus fleet to 113 by the end of 2028. At the same time, some of the B737s will be retired to achieve a total fleet of around 170 aircraft by the end of 2028.
According to the ch-aviation fleets module, Aeroflot Group does not have any firm orders for A320neo Family aircraft nor does it operate any.
