Russian Carriers Struggle as Sanctions Drag Economy Down
by Neelam Mathews and Vladimir Karnozov Aug 7, 2015 An August 3 ceremony at Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow, Russia, marked the handover of Transaero Airlines’ initial Airbus A321, delivered as part of the Russian carrier’s contract with China’s ICBC Leasing. (Photo: Airbus) With the Russian economy in retreat and as sanctions prompt airlines to turn from networks populated heavily with international routes to more domestically focused structures, managers have taken steps to decrease fleet capacity by handing back aircraft to lessors and deferring or canceling aircraft deliveries. Even Transaero—Russia’s second largest airline—has taken steps to cut capacity with plans to replace some larger Boeing types with Airbus A321s. The initial A321 delivery on July 28 at Moscow Vnukovo International Airport marked Transaero’s first experience with Airbuses since the turn of the century, when it leased a single A310 for a few...