Russia has begun mothballing passenger planes to save money

Russian airlines have begun to reduce the number of passenger aircraft operating on flights. The number of aircraft with a valid airworthiness certificate has decreased to 693, by 3%, Vedomosti reported , citing Rosaviatsia.

The largest number, 10% of the fleet, was mothballed by Rossiya Airlines — 12 aircraft out of 124. Representatives of this subsidiary of Aeroflot clarified in a conversation with Vedomosti that 19 aircraft are mothballed: seven Superjet 100, six Boeing-747, three Boeing-777, two Airbus A319 and one Boeing 737. The company did not name the reason for the downtime, saying that they will return the aircraft to flights only “as needed.”

S7 and Yamal left five aircraft without certificates each, Aeroflot and UTair - two each. In July, Rosaviatsia reported that the largest private airline S7 had reduced its fleet due to problems with servicing the new Airbus A320neo and A321neo - their engines are not repaired in Russia.

Aeroflot has 171 aircraft in its fleet, of which 96% are “in a state of airworthiness” and the others “undergo various forms of maintenance,” a company representative told the publication.

The airworthiness certificate confirms that the aircraft is in good condition and can carry passengers. Rosaviatsia revokes the document if the aircraft does not fly for 180 days.

The main reason for mothballing airliners is the desire to save on maintenance and repairs, Elina Kulieva, Senior Director of Corporate Ratings at Expert RA, explained to Vedomosti. Spacious aircraft like the Boeing 747 with 522 passenger seats are almost not in demand on domestic flights, added Ilya Shatilin, Editor-in-Chief of the Freequentflyers.ru portal. Flying abroad on Boeing and Airbus aircraft is problematic - some of the airliners retain foreign registration, and the lessor may try to seize the equipment.

There are enough planes on flights due to the reduction in the volume of transportation, clarified the head of the analytical center of the State Research Institute of Civil Aviation, Fyodor Borisov.

In 2024, the flow will decrease by 7% compared to last year, to 98 million air passengers, predicted Dmitry Yadrov, head of the Federal Air Transport Agency. The flow is decreasing against the backdrop of rising ticket prices: the average cost of an economy class flight in Russia, according to Rosstat, has increased by 17% over the year, to 7,363 rubles per thousand kilometers. In July, State Duma deputies created a working group that will have to propose to the government an upper limit for air ticket prices.

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