Aeroflot is moving toward finalizing an insurance agreement for foreign-made aircraft with international lessees, aiming to wrap up the deal by the end of 2023. In a recent interview, Sergei Aleksandrovsky, the airline’s chief executive, outlined the extensive preparations and the progress already achieved. He stressed that the plan is well advanced and carefully coordinated, reflecting a methodical approach to aligning fleet insurance with international aviation standards.
According to Aleksandrovsky, the scope of aircraft eligible for insurance has expanded from 47 to 61 units. The increase spans long-range and mid-range aircraft across Aeroflot and its sister carriers Rossiya and Pobeda. He noted that there are currently 102 deregistered aircraft within the operational ecosystem, a factor that provides certain leeway given the ongoing constraints on international flights. The expansion to 61 insured airplanes is targeted for completion by year-end, though the process itself is described as having a complex structure that requires careful coordination among multiple stakeholders.
Earlier, in September of the previous year, Aeroflot announced an agreement with the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) to purchase 339 aircraft manufactured domestically. Aleksandrovsky indicated that the plan includes signing 34 Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SJ-100) contracts and 18 MC-21 contracts with Aviacapital Service, the Rostec-owned rental company, around September. He projected that the first two SJ-100s would be delivered within the current year and the MC-21s by the end of the following year. All Superjets under this arrangement are slated for allocation to Russia’s airlines, with the MC-21s destined for Aeroflot and Russia.
The Aeroflot chief underscored the strategic importance of domestic long-haul aircraft for the nation’s airlines. He stressed the likelihood that foreign long-range aircraft will eventually be phased out from the fleets, a shift that would necessitate a focus on homegrown solutions to sustain international connectivity and domestic mobility. Aleksandrovsky emphasized that a robust domestic air network is essential not only for major hubs but also for ensuring travel accessibility across regional destinations within the country. This vision relies on maintaining reliable service to numerous international routes while prioritizing the expansion of national capabilities in the long run.
In addressing fleet planning, Aleksandrovsky noted ongoing discussions with manufacturers about long-range aircraft production. There is an active project on the PD-35 and Aeroflot’s expectations for a new generation of long-range aircraft from the industry remain a central theme. The airline aims to balance fleet modernization with strategic domestic capacity, ensuring that both international routes and regional connections are supported as part of a coordinated national aviation strategy. (cite: Aeroflot press materials)