Ethiopia Rejects Russian Bid to Lease Planes Amid Sanctions
Ethiopian Airlines has firmly rejected a Russian proposal to lease its aircraft, blocking an attempt by Moscow to sidestep international aviation sanctions imposed over its invasion of Ukraine.
In late July, Russian officials reportedly met with Ethiopia’s Civil Aviation Authority, seeking a deal to operate Western-built aircraft under Ethiopian registration on Russian routes, with maintenance, crew, and insurance provided by the African carrier.
On Tuesday, Ethiopian Airlines CEO Mesfin Tasew dismissed the idea, stating the airline has “no intention” of leasing aircraft to Russian carriers. He cited two reasons: a need for additional planes to meet Ethiopian’s own operational demands, and strict compliance with international laws, particularly given the airline’s strong ties with the United States.
Mesfin labeled reports of an agreement as “completely false.” The Ethiopian stance avoids accusations of helping Moscow circumvent Western sanctions, which have crippled Russia’s ability to obtain Boeing and Airbus jets and the spare parts needed to maintain them.
Aviation analyst Andrew Charlton noted that Russia’s dependence on Western aircraft has left its airlines struggling to keep fleets operational. Spare parts are increasingly sourced through cannibalization or black-market channels, raising costs and safety concerns.
Russia’s aviation woes have been compounded by Ukrainian drone strikes on airports and a July 28 cyberattack on Aeroflot, which forced dozens of flight cancellations. Passenger numbers for Russian carriers fell to under 50 million in the first half of 2025, down from 51.1 million a year earlier, underscoring the mounting pressure on the sector.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, politico.eu