Half of Russia's Airbus A320/A321neo fleet is currently grounded for technical reasons, revealing a major crisis in Russian civil aviation. According to an investigation by the Kommersant newspaper, 34 of the 66 aircraft in this family are now idle, mainly due to problems with their engines and lack of spare parts.
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In Russia, the situation of Airbus A320/A321neo aircraft has become critical, with a massive grounding of the fleet due to technical problems. According to a report in the Kommersant newspaper, around 34 of the 66 aircraft in this aircraft family are currently grounded. A figure which represents half of the A320neo fleet in Russia.
This crisis is mainly caused by Pratt & Whitney (P&W) engines, which cannot be repaired locally due to their complexity and international sanctions that prevent their importation. The S7 airline is particularly affected, with 31 of its 39 A320/A321neo parked.
Read: “Accelerated engine wear”: Airbus A220 planes affected by P&W reactor failures put companies in difficulty
Company officials plan to conserve engine resources until the next peak season, but it is likely that 15 to 20 of these planes will never return to flight.
Experts estimate that a large-scale retirement of the A320/A321neo could begin as early as 2026, potentially affecting up to 10% of Russia's total foreign aircraft fleet. The situation is made worse by the fact that other carriers, such as Aeroflot and Ural Airlines, are also experiencing similar difficulties with their aircraft.
Read: IN PICTURES. The spectacular disassembly, piece by piece, of an Airbus A330 plane stuck in a field for a year
The situation could have a significant impact on air traffic in Russia in the coming years. Forecasts indicate a possible reduction in passenger traffic of 10 to 15% by the end of next year if the situation does not improve.
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