MOSCOW- Russian airlines have continued to acquire spare parts for Western aircraft, defying sanctions aimed at restricting the supply of crucial equipment.
Customs data reveals that Ural Airlines (U6), Nordwind Airlines (N4), S7, Aeroflot (SU), and other carriers imported approximately $1.2 billion worth of spare parts from third-party sources between May 2022 and June 2023, as reported by Reuters.
Russian Airlines New Parts
It is worth noting that the actual value of these imports may be even higher since Reuters‘ calculations only encompass direct shipments to Russian airlines and their maintenance facilities, excluding shipments to other entities within Russia.
These spare parts were sourced from suppliers in various countries, including China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Moldova, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, as noted by Reuters.
Vital spare parts, including components produced by the U.S. corporation Northrop Grumman, as well as cabin pressure valves, cockpit displays, landing gear components, and water filters, are essential for maintaining the airworthiness of Russia’s fleet of 541 Boeing, Airbus, and other Western-made aircraft.
Russian airlines also operate approximately 150 domestically manufactured passenger planes.
Aviation Hit Hardest
The aviation sector in Russia was among the first to feel the impact of Western sanctions and the economic repercussions following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
According to Oleg Panteleev, the head of the Moscow-based aviation think-tank AvaPort, there was initially a state of shock, and finding alternative supply channels took a few months.
Within six to nine months, several alternatives emerged, leading to reduced prices and delivery times for spare parts and maintenance solutions.
Initially, air carriers encountered challenges related to aircraft maintenance due to disruptions in the supply of spare parts and software updates. However, Reuters’ report suggests that some of these issues have since been resolved or alleviated.
The U.S. Department of Commerce and the European Union have both indicated that they are implementing export controls for Russia’s aviation sector.
Additionally, an anonymous EU official mentioned that some countries are establishing systems for monitoring, controlling, and blocking re-exports.
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