Premier To Take Over New Aircraft Airbus A-319CJ

The new aircraft will be used by the Transport Aviation of the Army of the Czech Republic and will replace primarily the Russian Tupolev Tu-154M airplanes. In actual fact, the task of replacing the Czech fleet of transport aircraft is given by the need to comply with the strict noise and emission limits which are being introduced at airports worldwide and which the Russian aircraft fail to meet. Other reasons include higher fuel consumption of the Tupolev aircraft and more difficult availability of spare parts for the aircraft outside its home base.

During his official visit to France, Czech Premier Mirek Topolánek today visited the assembly line of the newly built Airbus A 380 aircraft that is also produced for the needs of the Czech Republic and got acquainted with its production programme.

The ceremony of taking over the A-319 CJ aircraft will be held in Prague-Kbely aircraft today, on October 9, 2007, at 11.00 p.m.

In view of the need of issuing permission to journalists to enter the airport, you are kindly requested to confirm your planned participation in the event by 4.00 p.m. today at the latest by writing to this e-mail address: judtova.viera@vlada.cz or by calling the Tel. No. 724 754 165.

Press Department of the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic