Russian Airlines Defy Sanctions, Import $1.2Bln Worth of Western Parts to Sustain Fleet

Russian airlines, including Ural Airlines, Norwdind Airlines, S7, and Aeroflot, have imported $1.2 billion worth of spare parts for Western aircraft from third-party suppliers between May 2022 and June 2023, despite sanctions aimed at restricting such imports. The parts, including devices made by Northrop Grumman, cabin pressure valves, cockpit displays, landing gear, and water filters, are crucial for maintaining the airworthiness of Russia's fleet of 541 Boeings, Airbuses, and other Western-made planes. The suppliers are located in China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Moldova, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. The initial shock of the sanctions led to the development of new supply channels, reducing prices and delivery times, and mitigating some of the issues faced by Russian airlines in maintaining their aircraft.