Russia aims to keep disputed leased aircraft flying until 2028

Russia’s Transport Ministry has drafted a government resolution that would allow domestic airlines to continue operating foreign aircraft and engines leased from overseas companies until December 31, 2028.

The proposed two-year extension would preserve a special legal framework introduced after the start of the war in Ukraine, as Russian carriers continue to face unresolved claims from international lessors over hundreds of aircraft.

The recently presented draft would extend the arrangements established under Government Resolution No. 412, adopted on March 19, 2022. The measure applies to aircraft and engines leased from foreign companies under agreements concluded before February 24, 2022. It was initially intended as a temporary arrangement for 2022, but its validity was subsequently extended through 2024 and then to the end of 2026.

According to Russian business newspaper Vedomosti, which reviewed the latest draft, the Transport Ministry is proposing to keep the special regime in place for another two years. An explanatory note accompanying the proposal says the extension is intended to protect the rights of Russian legal entities in connection with actions by countries Moscow considers unfriendly.

The existing framework allows Russian airlines to continue fulfilling qualifying leasing arrangements under special domestic procedures. These include rules governing contractual payments, aircraft operations, maintenance, repairs and insurance. Maintenance and repair work must be performed by organisations holding the relevant Russian compliance documentation, while insurance and reinsurance are handled by Russian companies.

The framework also regulates the export of affected aircraft from Russia, subject to restrictions established under a separate presidential decree. However, it does not resolve the underlying ownership disputes or automatically transfer aircraft titles to Russian operators.

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More than 200 aircraft remain tied to leasing disputes

The extension is being proposed because many of Russia’s foreign-leased aircraft are still involved in unresolved disputes with their lessors.

According to figures cited by Vedomosti, Russian airlines had 515 aircraft leased from foreign companies in February 2022, with an estimated combined value of approximately $10 billion.

Following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, international lessors sought the return of aircraft leased to Russian carriers. At the same time, Western sanctions restricted the supply of aircraft, components and maintenance services to Russia, disrupting the support arrangements on which much of the country’s commercial fleet had depended.

Some aircraft were detained outside Russia, while others were returned to lessors or subsequently acquired by Russian interests. Of the 407 aircraft that remained in the country, claims from foreign lessors had been settled for 204 between 2022 and 2025, according to figures reported by Vedomosti. This leaves approximately 203 aircraft with unresolved claims, based on the reported totals.

Around 100 of the aircraft covered by settled claims were associated with Aeroflot Group, which includes group airlines such as Aeroflot, Rossiya Airlines and Pobeda. The settlements have largely involved insurance arrangements, with Russian leasing company NLK-Finans acting as an intermediary in the process.

The extension would allow Russian airlines to keep operating these aircraft under the existing rules. However, it would not resolve the disputes with foreign leasing companies over who owns them.

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Keeping foreign aircraft operational remains difficult

The legal arrangements have also not removed the technical and supply-chain difficulties facing Russian airlines.

The Transport Institute, citing Vedomosti, reported that S7 Airlines has 39 Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft owned by foreign lessors. The aircraft account for more than a third of the carrier’s fleet, but only 11 A320neo were reported to be in operation.

Although the special regulation allows affected aircraft to be maintained and repaired under Russian procedures, it does not guarantee access to replacement engines, original components or the international support networks previously available to operators.

Russia’s commercial fleet has also contracted slightly since the beginning of the war. According to figures cited by the Transport Institute, the number of aircraft operated by Russian airlines declined from approximately 1,160 in the first half of 2022 to 1,135 by the end of 2025. Of the latter total, 1,088 were actually in service.

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MC-21 and SJ-100 deliveries offer limited relief

The proposed extension also reflects the difficulties Russia faces in replacing foreign-built aircraft with domestically produced models.

Aeroflot Group expects to receive its first eight MC-21 aircraft in the fourth quarter of 2027, followed by another ten in 2028. The delivery schedule was cited by the Transport Institute following a meeting between Aeroflot CEO Sergei Alexandrovsky and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on October 28.Meanwhile, Russia’s Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov has indicated that certification of the SJ-100 equipped with the domestically developed PD-8 engine is expected in spring 2027.

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Even if these schedules are met, the projected deliveries would represent only a limited addition to the fleet. Based on the announced MC-21 schedule, Aeroflot would receive no more than 18 aircraft by the end of 2028. That is considerably fewer than the approximately 200 aircraft across the industry for which claims by foreign lessors remain unresolved.

The replacement program therefore does not offer an immediate solution to the industry’s reliance on foreign-built aircraft. Certification, production rates and the availability of domestically manufactured components will all influence how quickly Russian airlines can reduce that dependence.

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Russian airlines asked to review the proposed extension

The Transport Ministry has sent its proposal to the Association of Air Transport Operators (AEVT), which has shared it with Russian airlines for review. The airlines are expected to submit their feedback and suggestions by November 17, 2026, according to Russian media reports.

The government has yet to approve the proposed extension. If adopted, the measure would move the expiry date of the special regime from December 31, 2026, to December 31, 2028.

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The latest proposal would therefore give Russian airlines another two years to operate qualifying foreign-leased aircraft under the existing domestic framework. However, it would not resolve the ownership disputes, restore access to Western maintenance support, or guarantee the availability of spare parts and engines.The post Russia aims to keep disputed leased aircraft flying until 2028 appeared first on AeroTime.

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