Aeroflot Russian Airlines (Moscow) is ready to be a Boeing 777 operator again (it previously operated the 777-200). However the Russian flag carrier has delayed the introduction of its first new Boeing 777-300 ER on the Moscow-Bangkok route. The pictured 777-3M0 ER VP-BGB (msn 41679) was handed over to the carrier on January 30. Aeroflot is blaming the delay on the delay of Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) to certify the new type in Russia. The airline issued the following statement:

“On January 30, 2013, after completing all the necessary formalities Aeroflot took delivery of new Boeing 777-300 ER at Seattle manufacturing plant.

According to the statement of the Federal Air Transport Agency of Russia to the mass media, Aeroflot will not get the permission of the Russian aviation authority to start the commercial exploitation of the plane, because until now the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) has not certified Boeing 777-300 ER type aircraft.

Due to this situation Aeroflot has to postpone the launch of the first commercial flight of this aircraft on Moscow-Bangkok route initially planned for February 1, 2013.

Instead of flying on Boeing 777-300 ER Aeroflot will provide services to this destination on Boeing 767-300 and Airbus A330.  The passengers on Moscow-Bangkok route, who bought tickets for new Comfort class will be provided with business class tickets.

In order to start the exploitation of the airliner from the mentioned date, Aeroflot has timely completed all the necessary formalities stipulated by the Russian legislation, and therefore the air company will take measures to compensate the caused losses.”

Copyright Photo: Joe G. Walker. VP-BGB is pictured at a wet Everett (Paine Field) prior to the hand over. VP-BGB is seen getting ready to depart on a test flight. The wide-body airliner is named “M. Kutuzov”. According to Wikipedia, “Mikhail Illarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov (1745-1813) was a Field Marshal of the Russian Empire. He served as one of the finest military officers and diplomats of Russia under the reign of three Romanov Tsars: Catherine II, Paul I and Alexander I. His military career was closely associated with the rising period of Russia from the end of the 18th century to the beginning of the 19th century. Kutuzov contributed much to the military history of Russia and is considered to have been one of the best Russian generals under the reign of Catherine II.”

Aeroflot Russian Airlines: