Russia forced to ground dozens of planes as sanctions prevent repairs
Russia is poised to ground almost 40 passenger planes as sanctions prevent the country’s airlines from being able to fix engines.
S7 Airlines, Russia’s second-biggest carrier, recently warned that it had idled more than half its fleet of Airbus A320neo jets – which provide links between Moscow and other cities.
This has led to warnings that the country’s domestic passenger numbers will fall by 7pc this year, dropping below 100m.
Dmitry Yadrov, head of Russia’s federal air transport agency, told the Tass state news agency: “These aircraft carry a significant volume of passengers, but the operation of these engines requires increased attention.“
Mr Yadrov said the full extent of the passenger decline will depend on how many planes S7 can keep flying and should be clearer come August or September.
The loss of capacity represents a blow to Vladimir Putin’s government, which had managed to keep most of Russia’s aircraft in service despite the imposition of sanctions in 2022.
The restrictions had prevented airlines from sourcing parts and repairs from Western providers.
Unlike routine maintenance work, the faults with the A320neo engines – which stem from the use of contaminated powdered metal in some parts – require specialist intervention from manufacturer Pratt & Whitney.
That means they must be removed after reaching a specified number of flights, with repairs taking up to 300 days per engine.
Airlines around the world have been affected – including European discount carrier Wizz Air, – but for most operators the groundings represent a temporary inconvenience.
However, for S7 and other Russian airlines, they are likely to represent a permanent loss of capacity, at least until the end of the war in Ukraine and a possible lifting of sanctions.
Russian media cited a transport ministry source as saying that neither S7’s engineering division nor Iran, which has years of experience keeping planes flying in the face of sanctions, has been able to carry out the required repairs.
S7 has already grounded 15 of its 31 A320neo jets – up from about half a dozen five months ago – and all eight of its larger A321neo aircraft, according to figures published on the CH-Aviation website. That would leave just 16 of the planes still operational.
The company also has older A320 models unaffected by the engine issue, as well as Boeing 737s, though it’s not clear how many of those remain serviceable.
S7 ranks second in size among Russian airlines after state-owned Aeroflot and is the country’s leading operator on domestic routes, with hubs in Moscow and Novosibirsk in Siberia, where it was founded.
The carrier is a member of the Oneworld alliance that also includes British Airways and American Airlines, though its membership has been suspended since the Ukraine invasion.
