Comlux Becomes Sukhoi Business Jet Launch Customer

Comlux president Richard Gaona said at the NBAA Convention that his company has placed an order for four airplanes, which carry a list price of $50 million each including interior outfitting. The first is scheduled for delivery to Comlux’s completions subsidiary in Indianapolis in 2014 with entry into service expected to follow in 2015.

As part of the deal, Comlux has agreed to market the Sukhoi Business Jet worldwide and provide interior outfitting and customer demo flights. SuperJet International, a joint venture between Sukhoi in Moscow and Alenia Aerospace in Venice, Italy, markets the airline version of the airplane and is developing the VIP version’s modular interior.

The Sukhoi Business Jet will have a range of 4,250 nm (thanks to the addition of six extra fuel tanks in the belly) and cruise at Mach 0.81. SuperJet CEO Carlo Logli said the market potential for the jet in the next 20 years is between 150 to 200 airplanes. Comlux currently operates 19 business jets and has another eight on the way. Gaona said the company’s deal for Sukhoi Business Jets might grow by another six to 10 airplanes after the first is delivered.