Aircraft not in Fleet yet, Ural Airlines to Invest ₽10 Billion in MS-21 Maintenance Hub at Koltsovo Airport.

• ₽10 billion investment: Ural Airlines will fully finance the construction of a new aircraft maintenance center at Koltsovo Airport using its own funds.
• MS-21-focused facility: The technical center will be designed to service Russia's domestically produced MS-21 aircraft, despite the airline not yet signing a purchase contract.
• Preparing for fleet renewal: Ural Airlines plans to acquire an initial 10 MC-21 narrow-body aircraft, with additional orders to be evaluated later.
• Airbus fleet to remain: The carrier's existing fleet of 51 Airbus aircraft will continue operating until the end of their service life.
• Large maintenance complex: The project includes a 15,000-square-meter hangar capable of accommodating five aircraft simultaneously, with facilities for landing gear, avionics, and component repairs.
• Operational target: The new maintenance center is expected to become operational in 2032–2033.

Ural Airlines has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Airports of Regions Management Company to build a regional technical center dedicated to servicing Russia's domestically produced MS-21 passenger aircraft at Koltsovo Airport, according to Russian media.

The project, announced during the Innoprom 2026 industrial exhibition, represents a ₽10 billion investment that will be financed entirely by the airline.

The announcement marks a strategic shift for the carrier, whose current fleet consists exclusively of 51 Airbus aircraft. Although Ural Airlines has yet to finalize a purchase contract for the MC-21, company executives say the investment is aimed at ensuring the airline is ready to support the arrival of new Russian-built aircraft in the coming years.

Preparing for the MS-21 Era

Speaking at Innoprom 2026, Ural Airlines CEO Kirill Skuratov said the airline intends to begin its fleet renewal with the acquisition of 10 MS-21 narrow-body aircraft, while additional orders will depend on operational experience and future requirements.

Despite the move toward domestic aircraft, Skuratov emphasized that the airline has no plans to retire its Airbus fleet prematurely. Instead, the European-built aircraft will remain in service until the end of their operational lifespan.

"Our goal is to be fully prepared to receive new Russian aircraft," Skuratov said.

15,000-Square-Meter Technical Center

The planned maintenance complex will cover approximately 15,000 square meters, including:

• 8,000 sq. m. dedicated to the main aircraft hangar;
• 6,000 sq. m. allocated for spare parts and maintenance equipment;
• Capacity to service up to five aircraft simultaneously;
• Specialized workshops for landing gear, avionics, and component repairs.

The center is expected to enter service in 2032–2033. Construction is expected to begin after the relocation of existing airport facilities occupying the designated site.

"We've allocated a full year just for design because it's an extremely complex facility," Skuratov explained.

Building on Existing Maintenance Expertise

The new project on MS-21 narrow-body aircraft expands Ural Airlines' existing maintenance capabilities at Koltsovo Airport.

The airline has operated a maintenance hangar at the airport since 2015, while an additional production facility commissioned in 2019 expanded aircraft component servicing.

Its maintenance division, Uralairlines Technics, has also developed its own servicing technology for the Airbus A320 landing gear, demonstrating the carrier's growing engineering expertise.

Supporting Russia's Aviation Industry

According to Yevgeny Chudnovsky, CEO of the Airports of Regions Management Company, the maintenance center is intended not only to support Ural Airlines but potentially other Russian carriers as domestic aircraft production accelerates.

"Our country is transitioning to domestically produced aircraft. These aircraft require dedicated maintenance infrastructure. It's important that our base airline can independently maintain the MS-21 and potentially provide these services to other operators as production volumes increase."

The project is expected to become an important element of aviation infrastructure in the Ural region as Russia expands production of domestically manufactured aircraft during the next decade.

Expanding International Cooperation

Beyond aircraft maintenance, Ural Airlines also announced several strategic initiatives during Innoprom 2026:

• Direct Yekaterinburg–Delhi flights are scheduled to begin in October.
• The airline signed a cooperation agreement with Sber's Indian branch to strengthen trade and economic ties between Russia and India.

Russian Aircraft Orders Gather Momentum

Recently concluded Innoprom exhibition also highlighted broader developments in Russia's aviation industry. Innoprom is Russia's flagship international industrial and trade exhibition, held annually in Yekaterinburg.

It serves as a major platform for manufacturing, technology, and international business partnerships. The fair recently concluded its main event in Russia on July 6–9, featuring Indonesia as the partner country.

Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Anton Alikhanov announced that S7 Airlines is negotiating the purchase of 70 to 100 fully import-substituted Tu-214 aircraft following certification of the updated model in late 2025.

Meanwhile, Skuratov confirmed that Ural Airlines is continuing negotiations over its own firm MS-21 orders, although no timetable for contract signing has been disclosed.

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