How will Russian airlines operate during peak season?

Nearing the holiday season, the problem of traveling by road air is becoming increasingly urgent, but as some countries remain “closed to the skies” and due to problems with chartering, insurance and maintenance, providing flight safety, the opportunity to travel and Air travel in Russia may be restricted.

Igor Deldyuzhov, president of the flight workers union Sheremetyevo, said that airlines operating in Russia have reduced the number of flights, due to difficulties related to the conversion of foreign registrations into Russia, and There are also problems with getting a certificate of airworthiness. However, for now, he said, flights are being operated and companies like Pobeda and Sibir are still operating as usual, as they do not have a redundant fleet.

Flights to Europe and North America are now closed to Russian airlines.

Currently, all relevant departments are working to restore routes to the most popular resorts for mass tourism – Asia Minor and Southeast Asia, the Middle East. Countries in this region do not impose any restrictions on Russian airlines.

The only restriction is that before the resumption of flights, the authorities of these countries must ensure that the Russian aircraft at their airports will not be detained at the request of third countries under any circumstances. . Only then will Russia be able to resume flights to these countries.

According to Igor Deldyuzhov, some countries have made such guarantees, such as Sri Lankaso flights to Colombo were opened.

Before the West took measures punish Russia, 60 airlines have flown to Russia, but in the past month and a half, the number has halved. At the same time, after Russia lifted anti-COVID-19 restrictions from April 4, flights to 52 countries have resumed, each with their own airlines, so Russia is expecting some The airline will return.

Aircraft maintenance is also very important, as it is closely related to flight safety. According to Igor Deldyuzhov, there are no spare parts for foreign-made aircraft in Russia.

However, experts are confident that the aircraft leasing units will take care of this. The issue of aircraft leasing is of particular interest to experts. Currently, Aeroflot has 5 Airbus A-310 aircraft on financial lease.

In fact, these planes were purchased on installments and no one was able to confiscate them. The European Commission has extended the finance lease.

There is a government decree that regulates the procedure for acquiring financial lease assets. The 78 aircraft seized were not a financial lease but an operating lease, which, according to the lawyer, was a lease.

European Union EU are likely to try to keep the profits received from the aircraft leasing, that’s why last week they decided to keep the lease agreements signed before 26 February.

If they are forced to take back the plane from Russian companies, then of course Russia will have great difficulty, but they will suffer even more damage, because the plane will rust, so European businesses is trying to legally bypass it, and politicians will probably ignore it.

However, the Russian aviation industry is suffering serious losses, in addition, the reduction of aviation staff has already begun.