Russian plane maker Sukhoi plans to start delivering its new Superjet 100 in December after a 13-month delay, company head Viktor Subbotin said on March 4.
The first deliveries of the new regional jet will be made to Russian flagship Aeroflot, Subbotin said.
The plane, which is undergoing testing, is 13 months behind schedule.
Russia is hoping the Superjet will revive the country's civil aviation industry, which has fallen far behind international competitors like Boeing and Airbus. RIA Novosti said Sukhoi had firm orders for 98 Superjets, many to be supplied to Russian companies.
The plane is being manufactured in Russia's far east at Komsomolsk-on-Amur, also home to a major submarine producer.
France's Snecma and Italy's Alenia are part of the project, which is estimated to have cost $1.4 billion.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2009