Transaero Airlines has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to buy four Airbus A380 aircraft for $1.5bn and will become the launch customer for the A380 in Russia, the CIS and Eastern Europe.

The carrier will select the engine for the aircraft in the future planning and deploy the jet in its long-range network of high-density routes from Moscow.

The 700-seat aircraft will feature a three-class cabin layout.

Delivery of the aircraft will start from the fourth quarter of 2015.