The world demand for medium-haul airliners within the category that includes Russia’s newest MC-21 will reach about 15,000 planes in the next 20 years, a top official said.

"In our estimates, the demand in the MC-21 segment will make up about 15,000 new planes in the next 20 years," Yuri Slyusar, head of Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) was quoted as saying by Tass.

The aircraft’s parameters put this airliner in the conditions of tight competition with Boeing and Airbus, he noted.

"The plane is planned to be offered to the world market simultaneously with the developments of the Chinese side, which will thus help destroy the duopoly existing on the market,” he said.

The MC-21 is the family of short-and medium-haul narrow-body airliners intended to replace Tupolev Tu-134 and Tu-154 planes and also their Western rivals.

The MC-21 has a flight range of 6,400 km, while the Sukhoi Superjet 100 can fly at a distance of 4,578 km.

The MC-21 will be able to carry 211 passengers, while the Sukhoi Superjet 100 airliner’s seating capacity is 108.

The current portfolio of orders for MC-21 is 285 airliners, 185 of which have been contracted on prepayment. The first client is Russia’s Aeroflot, which plans to have 50 MC-21 in its fleet. In April, the company’s director general, Vitaly Savelyev, said they expect the first three airliners in 2019.