ANTONOV is confident that its new regional turboprop model, the An-140, will secure additional export sales over the next three months, with its Ukrainian partner Kharkov State Aircraft Manufacturing Company (KSAMC) strongly targeting airlines in the Eastern fringes of Europe. The 52-seat aircraft is the first all-new passenger airliner developed, manufactured, tested, certificated and put into revenue service since the Soviet era, but sales of the aircraft to date have been slow, with only airlines in Iran, Russia and the Ukraine operating the type. Buoyed by a commitment from Air Libya during the 2003 Paris Le Bourget airshow, KSAMC is understood to have secured strong interest from airlines in both Bulgaria and the Slovak Republic and these leads are currently being pursued. The company has recently delivered its first aircraft to Kazakhstan with the aircraft flying under licence for Tulpar Avia Service on routes from Karaganda to Almaty and Astana. The aircraft is currently operating for a trial period but KSAMC is confident that Tulpar will place a firm commitment for up to six aircraft by the end of the year.
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