Russian Airlines Retire 58 Aircraft Amid Sanctions and Repair Challenges

In 2024, Russian airlines were forced to retire 58 passenger aircraft due to accidents and the inability to perform necessary repairs, according to Dmitry Yadrov, head of the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency Rosaviatsiya, as reported by Interfax. The difficulties stem largely from the severe sanctions imposed on Russian civil aviation following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

These sanctions included bans by the US, EU, and other countries on the supply of aircraft parts and the provision of technical support by major manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus. This has left Russian carriers without essential maintenance checks like the C and D Checks, which are crucial for aircraft safety and maintenance.

Consequently, Russian airlines have had to resort to “cannibalisation,” which involves dismantling some aircraft to obtain parts for repairing others. This situation is particularly challenging as two-thirds of the Russian airline fleet consists of foreign-made aircraft, which are responsible for 90% of domestic passenger transport. Additionally, the domestic SSJ-100 planes, which make up another significant portion of the fleet, also rely heavily on Western components.

This ongoing issue was a key topic during a meeting between Russian business representatives and Robert Agee, the President and CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia. The discussions focused on potentially lifting sanctions in specific sectors, including civil aviation, to alleviate some of these challenges. The outcome of these discussions could significantly impact the operational capabilities of Russian airlines moving forward.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, pravda.com.ua