Sanctions and Cannibalism Are Destroying russia’s Civil Aviation

russian cargo airlines Volga-Dnepr and Aeroflot have signed an agreement to transfer eight Boeing aircraft to the latter. These aircraft will be used as spare parts donors to maintain the technical condition and continue the operation of the carrier’s existing aircraft fleet.

Under the contract, six Boeing 737-800BCFs and two Boeing 747-400s will be transferred to Aeroflot’s subsidiaries, Pobeda and Rossiya, under financial leases. The deal is worth approximately $130 million and will be financed by the rf’s National Welfare Fund.

At the beginning of 2022, russia had approximately 1,500–1,800 Western-made civil aircraft in operation. Today, the number has decreased significantly. International sanctions have cut off the rf’s access to foreign aircraft and spare parts. The rf’s airlines are forced to ground their aircraft or purchase spare parts through unofficial channels without any guarantee of quality or safety. Another option that allows them to “patch up” their equipment for a short period of time is to dismantle serviceable airliners.

The contract between Volga-Dnepr and Aeroflot is the first case in the russian aviation market where a passenger airline receives cargo aircraft solely for the purpose of dismantling them for parts. In the medium term, this will lead to a reduction in the aircraft fleet, an increase in transportation costs, and further degradation of russia’s civil aviation. If current conditions continue, russia’s aircraft fleet could be reduced by more than half by 2026.