Russia’s Aeroflot plans to buy 22 aircraft, according to reports in the Russian media.

The airline reportedly wants to acquire 22 aircraft with an estimated value of more than USD2.5bn from Boeing, two Russian business newspapers have reported. According to Vedomosti, Aeroflot sources have said that the company has decided to acquire Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

Aeroflot’s deputy general director Lev Koshlyakov told Reuters that the choice had been made between Boeing and Airbus aircraft, and that he expects a contract to be signed before the end of March 2006 if all goes well.

According to the newspaper Kommersant, sources have said that Aeroflot has amended the tender and could acquire as many as 28 aircraft.