Editor’s Note
This article highlights growing aviation safety concerns as hundreds of Russian civilian aircraft face maintenance hurdles due to sanctions restricting access to vital parts, software, and technical support.
Hundreds of civilian aircraft in Russia are unable to obtain the parts, software, and technical expertise required for scheduled maintenance, according to an analysis by The Wall Street Journal. Safety concerns are growing among industry players and regulators.
The United States and Europe imposed sanctions and export restrictions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, blocking the flow of necessary parts, services, and technology for commercial passenger aircraft. Despite this, Russian airlines have continued operations. With domestic air travel demand surging, passenger numbers reached approximately 95 million last year.
Of the 696 active aircraft in Russia, about 77% are manufactured by U.S.-based Boeing and Europe’s Airbus. According to a December announcement by Russia’s central bank, Western-made aircraft accounted for 97% of domestic passenger traffic.