Every second Airbus A320/A321neo aircraft has stopped flying in Russia.
Of the 66 aircraft operated by Russian airlines, 34 no longer fly, reports the Russian publication Kommersant.
The most difficult situation has arisen for Russia’s largest private airline, S7. 31 of the 39 A320/A321neo aircraft between three and seven years old do not fly there. Aeroflot has two of nine such aircraft in service.
The suspension of flights occurred due to difficulties with servicing American Pratt & Whitney (P&W) and French Leap engines.
At the same time, about half of the idle airliners may no longer return to flight. The engine resources of more than 20 airliners in the S7 fleet are virtually exhausted.
P&W recalled its engines last year, forcing airlines to cut flights, and Airbus cut delivery plans for new planes this summer due to a shortage of engines from the company and Leap.
The situation with the French manufacturer is considered “less critical”: its engines require repairs on average every 2-2.5 years, while P&W’s require repairs every year and a half.
The publication’s sources predict that without repairs in Russia, A320/A321neo aircraft will begin to fail en masse in 2026.
Source: Racurs
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