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Russian Airlines Struggle Under Sanctions as Maintenance Gaps Threaten Flight Safety

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Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko
Dariia Mykhailenko
News Writer
Russian Airlines Struggle Under Sanctions as Maintenance Gaps Threaten Flight Safety
Antonov An-124 aircraft of the Russian airline Volga-Dnepr Airlines are parked at Leipzig/Halle Airport on April 30, 2025. (Source: Getty Images)

Despite Moscow's public insistence that sanctions are “ineffective,” Russia's aviation sector is facing a deepening crisis characterized by escalating costs and serious safety concerns, according to the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine on October 27 (SZRU).

The crisis stems directly from restricted access to modern aircraft, spare parts, and crucial maintenance services.

“Despite claims that sanctions are not working, the Russian aviation industry is seriously feeling them. After all, restricted access to modern aircraft, spare parts, and maintenance only exacerbates the crisis in Russian aviation. Ultimately, the main hostages of the situation are the passengers, who will pay for the industry's rising costs out of their own wallets,” the SZRU noted.

Russia's flagship carrier, Aeroflot, has already warned of significant fare hikes. Average ticket prices for the airline rose by 6% in the first half of 2025 alone, with further sharp increases expected. This surge is attributed to the rapidly rising costs of aircraft and passenger servicing.

Complicating the cost crisis is the worsening technical state of the fleet. A lack of spare parts and maintenance under sanctions has led to a growing number of malfunctions and emergency landings, jeopardizing flight safety across Russia.

The industry is also struggling with airport expenses, which now account for up to 30% of the ticket price on some routes. To manage this, airlines are introducing an additional “infrastructure fee” that will be entirely borne by the consumers.

“The head of ‘Aeroflot’ openly admitted: it is impossible to shift all costs onto the air carriers, and there are no alternative sources of income,” the SZRU added.

Earlier, the US proposed blocking Chinese airlines from flying over Russia on American routes, stating that this gives them an unfair benefit over US carriers by saving time and fuel.

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