Will Russian-based planes be able to fly for a long time? In any case, Moscow is doing everything possible to keep the sector afloat. According to a Reuters investigation, Russian airlines, including flag carrier Aeroflot, have begun dismantling planes to salvage spare parts.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Western sanctions have effectively barred Airbus and Boeing from selling spare parts to Russia. The two manufacturers are also not authorized to maintain the aircraft that make up the Russian fleets. As a result, the Kremlin in June advised airlines to use parts from some planes so that other foreign-built planes can continue to fly until at least 2025.
At least one Sukhoi Superjet 100, assembled in Russia but heavily reliant on foreign parts, and a near-new Airbus A350 are currently being scrapped, according to Reuters. According to reports, the Boeing 737 and the Airbus A320 have also been decommissioned to allow Aeroflot to replace certain parts of other planes of the same model, while the company’s fleet is made up of 80% Boeing and Airbus.
Russia accused of stealing hundreds of planes
This is not the first time that Russia has tried to circumvent Western sanctions to allow the aviation sector to survive. In March, a law signed by Vladimir Putin authorized Russian airlines to register in Russia the planes they rent abroad. That’s over 500 devices in total.
Source: BFM TV
