With sanctions forbidding any export of aircraft or their spare parts from the EU or the US to Russia, it was only a matter of time before airlines needed to cannibalize their own fleets to maintain operations. Reportedly, flag carrier Aeroflot has begun stripping one of its brand-new Airbus A350s for parts.

As many as four industry sources told Reuters on Tuesday that Russian carriers have grounded and begun dismantling some aircraft to service others in order to keep the rest of their fleets airworthy. While there have been speculations that this would happen at some stage, these are the first reports emerging that the process is ongoing. One source said that at least one Sukhoi Superjet SSJ100 (albeit Russian-built, it is still made up of foreign-produced parts) and one Airbus A350, both belonging to Aeroflot, are currently being harvested.

Only ten flights before grounded at only one month of age

Planespotters.net currently lists two of Aeroflot's Airbus A350-900s as parked. As Reuters' source states that the A350 in question is "almost brand-new," the aircraft that fits the description is VP-BYF. It was, somewhat ironically but also tragically, ferried from Toulouse-Blagnac to Moscow Sheremetyevo for delivery on February 24 - the same day Russia invaded Ukraine.

The jet is named after Russian actress and director Galina Borisovna Volchek (who died in December 2019 from pneumonia, one week after her 86th birthday). The plane is now "officially" re-registered in Russia as RA-73156. It operated only ten revenue flights before being grounded after returning from Male in the Maldives on March 7, visiting Havana, Victoria, and Sochi.

The source also told the news outlet that at least one engine had been removed from an SSJ100 and mounted on another. Furthermore, the Russian flag carrier is reportedly also utilizing a couple of Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s for parts for other aircraft of the same models.

The planes that never came

Aeroflot once had a total of 22 Airbus A350-900s on order. The first was delivered in February 2020. However, the airline only received a total of seven of the type before the state which controls it decided to start a war. As such, Airbus has found new customers for the jets meant for Aeroflot. Four have already been delivered to Turkish Airlines, and another two are on the way.

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Out of the ones that did make it, five are still active. Aeroflot is operating them on domestic routes to Krasnoyarsk and Sochi. Three of the aircraft are leased - two from SMBC and one, the first to be delivered, from Aurum Leasing. Japanese SMBC has written off $1.6 billion due to losing control over 34 of its aircraft operated by Russian airlines.

How long do you think Russian airlines can keep their current fleets airworthy, given the sanctions? Leave a comment below and share your estimate of the situation.

Source: Reuters