Russian airline Pobeda is reportedly planning to cut around 40% of its aircraft fleet and keep the remaining 16 Boeing 737-800 aircraft grounded until the end of 2022.
Pobeda, which is the low-cost arm of the country’s flag carrier Aeroflot, is cutting its Boeing 737-800 fleet from 41 aircraft to 25, according to multiple media reports. The sources cite the airline’s acting general director Andrey Yurikov’s letter the air carrier’s employees.
In the letter, Yurikov reportedly explains that the move would help the airline to accumulate a stock of spare parts that would last “until the lost supply chains are restored”.
Due to a lack of spare parts, Pobeda airlines is cutting its fleet from 41 down to 25, hoping supplies will last until the end of the year. pic.twitter.com/QgpyiHZUeO
— Kevin Rothrock (@KevinRothrock) March 25, 2022
In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the European Union and the United States imposed sanctions on Russia, prohibiting sales of aircraft, spare parts as well as other related equipment to Russian airlines.
Since then, several major aerospace companies have cut ties with Russia, including Boeing, which announced the suspension of parts, maintenance, and technical support for Russian carriers on March 2, 2022.
“We have suspended major operations in Moscow and temporarily closed our office in Kyiv. We are also suspending parts, maintenance, and technical support services for Russian airlines. As the conflict continues, our teams are focused on ensuring the safety of our teammates in the region,” the American manufacturer said at the time.
Pobeda’s fleet is solely composed of Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
On March 5, 2022, the airline announced suspending international flights in response to the country’s Federal Air Transport Agency recommendation. Most flights are suspended until the end of April 2022, except for flights to Egypt which are cancelled until May 15.