Airlines may be allowed to hold on to foreign aircraft for another two years.
The Ministry of Transport has prepared a draft resolution that extends the special regime for foreign aircraft leased by Russian airlines until the end of 2028.
This applies to Boeing, Airbus and Embraer aircraft, Found out Vedomosti. The Ministry of Transport has prepared a draft government resolution extending the special regime until the end of 2028. The authorities explain the need for the document as "protecting the rights of legal entities in connection with the actions of unfriendly countries."
How many foreign aircraft do airlines have left?
As of February 2022, Russian airlines had 515 aircraft leased from foreign companies. Some of these were impounded abroad after the war in Ukraine began, while others were returned or repurchased. As of today, 407 aircraft remain in Russia—and carriers have managed to formally settle the leasing claims for only half of them.
Despite harsh sanctions that have completely cut off spare parts supplies, maintenance, and insurance, foreign airliners remain a key pillar of passenger transportation in Russia. Meanwhile, the authorities promised By 2030, deliver more than a thousand domestic airliners to the industry, and by the beginning of 2026, transfer almost a hundred new aircraft to carriers—including the Superjet, MS-21, and Tu-214.
Fleet expansion: 13 aircraft in four years
However, within four years the fleet replenished only 13 aircraft - 12 Superjets and one Tu-214, which was assigned to Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov instead of regular flights.
Read about how Russian aviation is losing its wings in material from "NeMoskva".