How Russian airlines have been able to skirt sanctions and keep flying?

In January, the government legalized transferring parts from those parked planes. The airlines also benefit from the relative youthfulness and reliability of their Western-built airliners, says John Goglia, a former airline mechanic and ex-member of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board.



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Russian Airlines Are Flying High Despite Sanctions. The West had sought to largely ground the country's carriers, but they continue to operate by skirting global rules and cannibalizing older planes for parts. An Airbus A321-211 flown by Aeroflot sits at the Geneva airport on March 25, 2022.

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Russian airplane makers, which had previously relied heavily on components made in the US and Europe, began manufacturing their own versions and developing new planes. Carriers made do by skipping otherwise crucial software updates and safety checks on their remaining Boeing and Airbus fleets.

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The polar route
Chinese airlines aren't the only ones still using Russian airspace. Air India, for example, flies over Russia for its direct flights from India to the United States. Middle Eastern airlines, like Emirates, also continue to fly over Russia on their North American routes.

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Following its invasion of Ukraine, Russia lost the ability to operate much of its commercial aircraft fleet outside Russia. Most of the aircraft operating for Russian airlines are leased from foreign lessors and subject to sanctions and repossession if they leave Russia.

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Still, by 2025, Russia is expected to be left with just 70 percent of its foreign-made airplanes. The primary goal for Russian civil aviation right now is to stay afloat until 2030.

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