At present, there are confirmed orders for 170 Superjets. Aeroflot is expected to receive its first “Superjets” in 2011. Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin said last week that Aeroflot’s management is getting ready to issue sanctions against the manufacturer, because of disruptions caused by the delayed deliveries of new jets.

He recalled that, according to initial plans, the first Sukhoi Superjets 100 were to reach Aeroflot at the end of 2010, but a delay in the obtaining an airworthiness certificate prompted the company to postpone the deadline several times.

“The delivery dates indicated in the contract have expired and now the executives are drawing up on penalties,” Levitin said. “They will first send them to the (the manufacturer)GSS board of directors and then to the government.”

A spokesman for Aeroflot said that Superjets have been included in the airline’s summer flights schedules and the management is anxious to get them.