Russian President Vladimir Putin told the government that air transport faces pressure amid sanctions on the country.
He commented that in the context of sanctions, older decisions by Western partners have left the sector exposed to political pressure on commercial aviation. The president stressed that air travel is a strategic asset for Russia, driving high-tech growth and providing jobs.
Putin highlighted the role of aviation in linking Russia’s vast regions, noting that air transport is crucial for nation-wide connectivity.
Traffic volumes have fallen versus 2021, yet the president pointed out a recent positive trend over the last four months. The improvement is tied to measures supporting the industry and stabilizing ticket prices.
With the support program running through October 31, the government will assess how the sector should operate during the upcoming winter period and in the face of ongoing constraints.
The president underscored the goal of expanding domestic air travel and improving accessibility for citizens, with a focus on reaching remote and hard-to-reach areas.
Development prospects
Putin said the current challenges create a rare chance for the aviation sector to reach a new level of development. He urged a sustainable growth path for air travel in the coming years and signaled readiness for a quicker rebound in flight activity. Domestic demand is recovering, and that momentum is expected to lift air travel demand among Russian consumers.
The most recent meeting between the president and the cabinet in March led to instructions for a comprehensive 2030 development program. By late June, the cabinet approved the plan and emphasized a rapid shift toward domestically produced aircraft as a strategic aim.
Over the next seven years, more than 770 billion rubles are allocated for the program. By 2030, the forecast calls for a replenished fleet with tens of MS-21 and SSJ New aircraft, plus a large number of domestically produced airplanes, including Il-114-300 and Tu-214 models, as well as more than 760 helicopters to be delivered to airlines.
Who bears the high cost of aircraft?
Putin stated that Russian airlines will gradually transition to domestic aircraft, but the higher cost should not be transferred to passengers. He emphasized the need to understand production costs and to ensure pricing does not burden travelers, especially in the early stages.
The president urged designing an economic model that protects citizen accessibility and flight convenience during fleet renewal. He recalled decisions made at the end of March to support air transport and noted that passenger ticket reimbursements were prioritized to relieve people from the burden caused by the sanctions and operational challenges.
He also mentioned a government allocation of 100 billion rubles for these purposes, describing it as substantial support.
State of the Russian aviation sector
Vitaly Savelyev, head of Russia’s Ministry of Transport, reported a 9% reduction in domestic air travel in the first half of the year compared with 2021. Independent analyses cited by industry outlets suggest potential losses of millions of passengers due to airport closures in the southern part of the country. Analysts warn that the target of serving 100 million passengers in 2022 may be difficult to achieve.
Officials attributed the drop to flight restrictions at several southern airports, with efforts ongoing to address the situation. By year-end, around 5 million passengers were expected to be served under subsidy programs. State support measures were designed to limit tariff growth as authorities allocated substantial funds for aviation development.
In the early months of the year, multiple states effectively closed their skies to Russian carriers as a response to military actions. Russia responded by suspending access to its air space for many foreign carriers and equipment suppliers. Aircraft manufacturers also paused technical support, and several lessors sought the return of aircraft. In late February to early March, the aviation landscape shifted in response to sanctions and operational disruptions. A gradual easing of some restrictions was noted later as international standards were aligned with safety obligations.
These developments are discussed in official briefings and sector analyses, with attribution to government and industry sources. [Source attribution provided in internal summaries.]