RuAviation

The State Duma has passed a law authorising Russian airlines to wet lease aircraft from foreign carriers. This pertains to the lease of aircraft complete with crew. Bill No. 764314-8 was submitted for consideration in November 2024. The document underwent its second and third readings in expedited fashion, according to Interfax.

Amendments will be made to the Air Code, opening up new opportunities for an industry facing reduced passenger numbers and a shortfall in its own fleet. Russian carriers will now be able to enter into lease agreements with overseas companies. The main condition is compliance with the legislation of participating countries and international agreements. Aircraft are only permitted to operate flights after receiving authorisation from Russian regulators.

Previously, wet leasing was only permissible domestically. In September 2024, a law was passed authorising leases between Russian airlines for internal routes. This assisted carriers in rapidly increasing carrying capacity. For instance, Aeroflot leased three Airbus A330s from iFly to cover demand on new routes.

Aeroflot spearheaded the expansion of the mechanism to international operations. The group’s Director-General, Sergei Alexandrovsky, explained that this will allow Russian companies to adapt more rapidly to market changes. The Ministry of Transport supported the idea and prepared the corresponding draft law. The Head of the Department, Roman Starovoit, announced its adoption before the end of 2025.

The new law will come into effect after official publication. It will afford airlines flexibility in fleet management and reduce crew costs. For foreign carriers, it presents an opportunity to monetise idle aircraft.