Russian air carrier Aeroflot has signed a leasing agreement with Rostekhnologii, a Russian government-controlled holding company, in order to guarantee a recent order from Boeing worth up to $2.5bn. Both entities said they would cooperate in the purchase and lease of passenger planes.

In 2009, Rostekhnologii launched a tender for at least 50 planes with the aim of bolstering six regional airlines within its portfolio, but later gave control of the airlines to Aeroflot. Boeing won the tender in early June.

The agreement between Aeroflot and Rostekhnologii will see the establishment of an aircraft leasing company, which may involve cooperation with a bank or state export agency, in order to buy the planes and lease them to the six regional airlines controlled by Aeroflot.

Although Rostekhnologii no longer controls the airlines for which it ordered the planes, Aeroflot will continue with the Boeing order as Boeing-manufactured planes comprise the bulk of the regional airline fleets. An Aeroflot spokesman said that the airline is still reviewing the strategy for the six regional airlines, stating that the agreement with Rostekhnologii requires the holding company to offer better leasing terms that other available proposals.