Russian airlines begin dismantling planes for spare parts

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Russian airlines are dismantling passenger planes for spare parts they can no longer buy abroad due to Western sanctions, four industry sources told Reuters.

These actions are in line with advice the Russian government provided in June for airlines to use some aircraft as parts to ensure that the rest of foreign-built aircraft can continue to fly until at least 2025.

Sanctions imposed on Russia after it sent its troops to Ukraine in late February have prevented its airlines from getting parts or undergoing maintenance in the West.

FAA issues new safety directive on Boeing 777 airplanes.

Aviation experts have said Russian airlines are likely to start taking parts from their planes to keep them airworthy.

At least one Sukhoi Superjet 100 and one Airbus A350, both operated by Aeroflot, are currently grounded and being disassembled, a source familiar with the matter said.

The Sukhoi Superjets that are assembled in Russia rely heavily on foreign parts.

It was also taking parts from a pair of Aeroflot’s Boeing 737s and Airbus A320s, as the airline needs more parts from those models, the source said.

Most of Russia’s aircraft fleet consists of Western airliners.

Photo: Maarten Visser/Wikimedia