Russian airlines are returning old domestic and foreign aircraft to commercial operation, mothballed even before the start of the invasion of Ukraine, as per Izvestia. This is a forced step due to the reduction of the aircraft fleet and the lack of updates under sanctions.
Out of desperation, the Russian carriers plan to massively return to operation in 2026–2027 mothballed aircraft of Soviet and foreign production that are more than 30 years old, as reported by the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine.
In the year 2022, Russia had launched the process of restoring 12 domestic aircraft of various types, including nine aircraft of the Tu-204-214 family, one An-148 and two Il-96.
According to Russian media 10 out of 12 aircraft (passenger and cargo) have already been returned to service, among them are Tu-204/214, Il-96, and An-148. By 2027, the two remaining Tu-204s will also be transferred. Among the recipients of these aircraft are Red Wings and other airlines.
It is noted that such a step is forced against the backdrop of a rapid reduction in the aircraft fleet and the absence of real opportunities for its full-fledged renewal under sanctions.
In parallel, Russian carriers are forced to de-mothball foreign aircraft. Aircraft over 20 years old are being returned to flight after years of storage, primarily due to a lack of alternative aircraft.
In addition, foreign Boeing 747s are going to be returned to operation in 2026-2027, Izvestia sources say. For example, Rossiya Airlines has two such airliners, which it received after the bankruptcy of Transaero Airlines in 2015-2016: they operated flights on Russian and foreign routes, but were put into storage during the coronavirus pandemic.
As per Izvestia, in 2025 the purchase of spare parts for the Boeing 747 has intensified, and one of the experts explains that the reconstruction of aircraft can be carried out in "friendly" countries - for example, in Iran, where there is a technical base for this.
As of October 2025, the fleet of the largest Russian airlines numbered 1135 aircraft, of which 1088 were in operation. About 67% of the fleet consists of foreign-made aircraft, the maintenance of which is significantly complicated by sanctions and a chronic shortage of spare parts.
The crisis is most acute in cargo aviation: air cargo turnover fell from 9.2 billion tonne-kilometers in 2021 to 1.9 billion in 2024. Experts note that without access to modern aircraft and service, the degradation of the industry may deepen further.
In October 2025, the head of the Federal Air Transport Agency, Dmitry Yadrov, said that by 2030, 230 Russian and 109 foreign aircraft could leave the fleets of the Russian carriers. According to experts, the gradual downsizing of the aircraft fleet, explains the decrease in passenger volume that was observed in the year 2025.
After the start of the invasion of the Ukraine in 2022, the European Union and the United States closed the skies for Russian aircraft and banned the supply of spare parts for them. Additionally, Europe banned the support and insurance of aircraft of Russian carriers, and also obliged leasing companies to seek the return of aircraft leased to Russian airlines.
Owing to these sanctions, some Russian carriers resorted to dismantle some of their aircraft for spare parts for the maintenance of others. At the same time, the program for the supply of new domestic aircraft has shifted from 2024 to at least 2025-2026.
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