Russia begins stripping jetliner parts for sanctions

MOSCOW — Russian airlines, including state-owned Aeroflot, are dismantling jetliners to secure spare parts they can no longer buy abroad due to Western sanctions, four industry sources say Reuters told to

The move is in line with the advice the Russian government provided in his http://static.government.ru/media/acts/files/1202206270017.pdf June, that airlines will use some aircraft as components and the remaining foreign-made aircraft To be able to continue flying until at least 2025.

Sanctions imposed on Russia after it sent troops to Ukraine in late February have prevented Russian airlines from obtaining spare parts and maintenance services in the West. I can no longer receive it.

Aviation experts say Russian airlines are likely to start taking parts from aircraft to keep them airworthy, but these are the first detailed examples.

At least one Russian-made Sukhoi Superjet 100 and an Airbus A350, both operated by Aeroflot, have now been grounded and dismantled, a source familiar with the matter said. Told.

Due to the sensitivity of this issue, acknowledgment of sources has been denied.

The Airbus A350 is almost new, sources said.

Most of Russia's aircraft fleet consists of Western jetliners.

Equipment had been removed from two of Aeroflot's Boeing 737s and Airbus A320s because the airline had more money to buy from these models for other Boeing 737s and Airbus A320s. A lot of spare parts are needed, sources said.

The Russian Ministry of Transport and Aeroflot did not respond to requests for comment.

"A Matter of Time"

The Russian-assembled Sukhoi Superjet also relies heavily on foreign components. Initial sources say the engine has already been removed from one superjet so that another can continue to fly.

Indeed, engines are frequently replaced between aircraft and are usually supplied under separate contracts, industry experts said. They are not considered part of the core airframe.

It is "only a matter of time" before the Russian-based aircraft can be cannibalized, Western aviation industry sources said.

The new generation of jets – A320neo, A350, Boeing 737 MAX and 787 – is equipped with technology that must be constantly updated.

Within a year of the sanctions taking effect, he said, it would be a "challenge" to keep even Russia's highly developed and capable technological base operating modern jet aircraft. said Western sources.

The practice of removing parts to keep another plane flying is commonly known as turning a disused plane into a "Christmas tree." While relatively rare, it is most often linked to financial difficulties and has never happened on the same scale as the extensive refurbishment predicted in Russia to deal with the impact of sanctions.

Many parts have lifetimes and need to be logged.

Nearly 80% of Aeroflot's fleet consists of Boeing and Airbus. Based on the latest available data, as of the end of last year there were about 80 Russian Sukhoi Superjets, plus 134 Boeings and 146 Airbuses.

Reuters calculations based on Flightradar24 data show that about 50 Aeroflot aircraft, or 15% of those aircraft, have taken off since late July, including jets stranded due to sanctions. not

According to FlightRadar24 data, three of Aeroflot's seven Airbus A350s, including one currently in use for parts, have not taken off for about three months.

The reduction in routes operated by Russian airlines due to Western sanctions means there are unused jets on the ground that can be removed, another industry source said.

"Western manufacturers understand that almost all superjets operate in Russia," said the head of aviation think tank Aviaport. Oleg Panteleev said.

Dismantling

Russia's aviation industry development plans by 2030 include the A350 and Bombardier. It is estimated that Russia may face the biggest challenge, as Q-series maintenance will take place abroad.

The Russian government's advice envisages "partial dismantling of certain parts of the aircraft" to keep two-thirds of his foreign aircraft operational by the end of 2025.

Panteleev said the main challenge is getting the engine and sophisticated electronics to work properly.

"It will be difficult to repair," he said.

Aeroflot, once the world's top airline but now dependent on state aid, saw traffic drop 22% in the second quarter of this year compared to the same period last year, according to company data. shows. It flies to most western destinations.

Securing supplies from countries that have not imposed sanctions on Russia will not help, as companies in Asia and the Middle East fear the risk of secondary sanctions by Western governments. , said the source.

"Each part has its own (unique) number, and if the document lists a Russian airline as the final purchaser, no one in China or Dubai will agree to supply it." deaf," said the first source. I would add that all parts must be made known to Boeing and Airbus before being delivered to the end user.

(Reporting by Reuters, Editing by Josephine Mason, Matt Scapham, Jane Merriman)