The key facts

  • The Ministry of Transport has prepared a draft extending the special regime for operating foreign aircraft by two years
  • The regime has been in effect since March 2022 and allows aircraft to be insured and serviced under Russian rules
  • In parallel, a ticket fee from 2027 is being discussed to compensate the leasing of 258 aircraft; the State Duma has spoken out against it

Extension of the special regime

Russia's Ministry of Transport has prepared a draft government resolution that extends by two years the special regime for operating foreign aircraft and engines leased from foreign companies. This was reported by Gazeta.Ru citing Vedomosti. The amendments are being made to government resolution No. 412 'On Approving the Specifics of Implementing Financial Lease (Leasing) Agreements,' adopted in March 2022 — after foreign lessors demanded the return of aircraft leased by Russian carriers, and Western manufacturers and service companies stopped servicing them.

What changes for airlines

The extension of the regime will allow domestic airlines to insure aircraft under Russian rules, as well as service and repair them to Russian standards. The draft resolution has already been received and sent to airlines, the Air Transport Operators Association said. In effect, this is about extending the legal basis under which the fleet of foreign aircraft continues to fly in Russia despite the requirements of the original leasing agreements and Western certification standards.

Parallel discussion on a ticket fee

At the same time, another support mechanism for the industry is being discussed: according to Gazeta.Ru, the draft budget for 2027–2029 provides for the introduction, from 2027, of a fee on the purchase of air tickets. The funds are intended to go toward 'compensating the cost of leasing and operating' 258 aircraft. The State Duma spoke out against the additional fee. Earlier, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said that Russian airlines would be helped to buy MS-21 aircraft.

What remains unknown

The extension of the regime is, for now, a draft resolution rather than an adopted decision: the document has been sent to airlines, but the publications do not report its approval by the government. The outcome of the discussion about the ticket fee is also unclear: it appears in the draft budget, whereas State Duma deputies have spoken out against it. Thus, both support mechanisms for the industry — the extension of the special regime and the additional fee — remain at the proposal and discussion stage.