Grounded by Sanctions: Russia Turns to India for Domestic Flight Solutions

Russia’s aviation sector is facing significant challenges due to its ongoing war with Ukraine, compounded by Western sanctions.

These sanctions have led to a shortage of aircraft, which has made it difficult for Russian airlines to meet the growing demand for domestic air travel. As a result, Moscow is reportedly seeking assistance from “friendly” countries to help bridge the gap.

In an effort to address the shortage, Russia has approached Indian airlines, asking them to operate domestic flights within its airspace. However, Indian carriers have expressed reluctance, citing several challenges that make the proposal unfeasible.

According to reports, Indian airlines have informed the government that both their aircraft lessors and insurance providers would not permit such operations due to the ongoing sanctions. Furthermore, Indian airlines are already grappling with their own shortage of aircraft, which is hindering their ability to expand domestically.

Before the conflict with Ukraine, Russian airlines had relied heavily on aircraft from Boeing and Airbus, but Western sanctions have since halted all planned deliveries. This has forced Russia to redirect these aircraft orders to other countries.

The concept of “cabotage” – where an airline is allowed to carry domestic passengers within a foreign country – is not new, though it is rare. Currently, only Australia and New Zealand have such an arrangement.

Despite this, Indian airlines have shown hesitation, with reports suggesting that they find it unviable to operate within Russia’s airspace under the current circumstances.

Indian carriers have also pointed out that most of their fleets are leased, and their lessors would not approve the idea of sending aircraft to Russia. Additionally, the risk of losing insurance coverage is another major concern.

As an alternative, Russia is reportedly in talks with several Central Asian nations, including Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, to explore potential solutions.