RUSSIA has granted US$12 billion in state subsidies and loans to keep its aviation sector afloat in response to Western sanctions over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, Reuters reports.
Dependent on foreign-made aircraft, russia faces the daunting task of developing its aviation industry alone with domestically sourced parts, while buying aircraft from foreign lessors to avoid more of its fleet being seized.
Western planemakers Airbus and Boeing halted supplies of services and spare parts in March 2022 and dropped regular maintenance support for flag carrier Aeroflot and other Russian airlines.
Since then, Russia has spent RUB1.09 trillion (US$12.07 billion) supporting the civil aviation industry, including aircraft manufacturing and financial assistance for airlines.
The spending is almost twice as much as RUB547 billion in payments made in 2020-21, when the Covid scare caused a drastic reduction in air travel.
'Our fleet of aircraft is very overloaded with foreign-made planes,' said Russian President Vladimir Putin. 'We plan to produce more than 1,000 aircraft by 2030, our own planes. Work is needed.'
Swiss aviation data provider ch-aviation, says Russian airlines currently operate 991 aircraft, including 405 made in Russia.
But just 133 are Superjets made by state-owned producer United Aircraft Corporation. Other Russian-produced aircraft are Tupolev, Yakovlev and Ilyushin.
SeaNews Turkey
Dependent on foreign-made aircraft, russia faces the daunting task of developing its aviation industry alone with domestically sourced parts, while buying aircraft from foreign lessors to avoid more of its fleet being seized.
Western planemakers Airbus and Boeing halted supplies of services and spare parts in March 2022 and dropped regular maintenance support for flag carrier Aeroflot and other Russian airlines.
Since then, Russia has spent RUB1.09 trillion (US$12.07 billion) supporting the civil aviation industry, including aircraft manufacturing and financial assistance for airlines.
The spending is almost twice as much as RUB547 billion in payments made in 2020-21, when the Covid scare caused a drastic reduction in air travel.
'Our fleet of aircraft is very overloaded with foreign-made planes,' said Russian President Vladimir Putin. 'We plan to produce more than 1,000 aircraft by 2030, our own planes. Work is needed.'
Swiss aviation data provider ch-aviation, says Russian airlines currently operate 991 aircraft, including 405 made in Russia.
But just 133 are Superjets made by state-owned producer United Aircraft Corporation. Other Russian-produced aircraft are Tupolev, Yakovlev and Ilyushin.
SeaNews Turkey
