Russian planemaker Sukhoi said on Tuesday it was near a deal to sell 50 short-haul passenger jets to flag carrier Aeroflot and hoped to further boost plane orders by another 100 this year.
Sukhoi, which has so far sold 50 planes under its Russian Regional Jet Program (RRJ), said it was in talks with Aeroflot to sell another 50 planes, but more orders were expected this year.
"We are in intensive negotiations with Aeroflot. I think customers will change in their attitude to the program," Subbotin said at the Paris air show.
He flagged total firm orders for its 60,75, and 95-seat commercial planes to hit 200 by the end of the year.
The jets sell for up to USD$25 million each giving the potential Aeroflot order a value of more than USD$1 billion.
A source close to the matter said Sukhoi was also in serious talks with at least two other potential order customers.
So far only domestic airline Sibir has signed a contract with Sukhoi to buy 50 RRJs. Russia's postal service, Pochta Rossii, has expressed interest, as has airline and helicopter operator UTair.
The RRJ project, which the combat jet maker is developing with advice from Boeing, is critical to the Russian government's plan to revive domestic civil aviation.
The order would mark a significant step forward for state-owned Sukhoi and the government which believes that the RRJ project could breathe new life into the industry, still suffering from post-Soviet woes.
European aerospace group EADS had expressed interest in buying a stake in Sukhoi but there were "no serious negotiations" with the European group, Subbotin said.
EADS is looking at buying a stake in rival Russian warplane maker Irkut.
Subbotin also said Sukhoi was in talks with potential investors about auctioning off a stake in the state-owned firm in the long term. He declined to give details.
The regional jet market is changing rapidly as demand for 50 seat models dries up in favor of larger planes.
Canada's Bombardier and Embraer of Brazil dominate this market, but the Russian challenge could make pricing tougher, as could plans for an Asian regional jet.
