The Russian State Duma has recently passed amendments to the Air Code, granting Russian airlines the ability to wet lease foreign aircraft.
This decision, finalized by April 2025, allows domestic carriers to lease aircraft from foreign companies, complete with their crews, under a “wet lease” arrangement.
The policy shift aims to address growing demands in the aviation sector, boost international connectivity, and tackle operational challenges faced by Russian airlines.
The Wet Lease Solution
A wet lease, also known as an ACMI lease (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance), involves renting an aircraft along with its crew, maintenance services, and insurance from another operator.
Unlike a dry lease, where only the aircraft is leased, a wet lease provides a full package. This arrangement is particularly useful for airlines needing quick capacity boosts without the long-term commitment of purchasing new aircraft or training staff.
For Russia, this opens doors to flexibility in a current climate of sanctions and restrictions. This means Russian airlines don’t need to source parts or maintenance services for these specific planes—the foreign provider handles it.
In theory, this bypasses the immediate problem of restricted access to Western supply chains, allowing Russian carriers to keep flying and expand capacity without relying solely on their own strained resources.
For example, if a Russian airline leases a plane from a country unaffected by Western sanctions—say, in Asia or the Middle East—that aircraft arrives ready to fly, sidestepping the parts shortage for Russia’s existing fleet. This can help maintain or even grow flight schedules, especially on international routes, where demand is rising.
Until now, wet leasing by Russian carriers was only permitted domestically. Legislation passed in 2024 authorized leases between Russian airlines for internal routes.
International Expansion Hopes
Russia’s aviation sector has faced hurdles in recent years, including sanctions, supply chain disruptions, and restricted access to Western aircraft and parts. These challenges have strained fleet availability and limited growth opportunities.
By allowing wet leases, the government hopes to stabilize the industry and support its carriers in meeting both domestic and international demand. The move also aligns with efforts to expand tourism and strengthen economic ties with countries open to collaboration.
The decision comes at a time when Russian airlines are eager to modernize and scale operations. With international travel rebounding globally, carriers need reliable ways to increase capacity.
Wet leasing offers a practical solution, enabling them to tap into foreign resources without the delays of building their own infrastructure from scratch.
Impact on Russian Airlines
For airlines like Aeroflot and S7, this could mean faster expansion into new routes. Wet leasing allows them to deploy additional planes almost immediately, bypassing the lengthy process of acquiring and certifying new aircraft.
It also provides access to modern, fuel-efficient models that might otherwise be unavailable due to geopolitical restrictions. This flexibility could enhance competitiveness, especially on popular international routes.
However, the reliance on foreign crews could spark debates about job opportunities for Russian pilots and staff. Balancing economic benefits with domestic employment will be key as the policy rolls out.
Looking Ahead
The approval of wet leases reflects Russia’s intent to deepen aviation ties with nations outside the Western sphere. Countries in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa could become key partners, supplying aircraft and expertise.
This shift might also encourage reciprocal agreements, fostering a broader network of aviation cooperation.
The wet lease amendment marks a turning point for Russian aviation. It’s a pragmatic step to navigate a complex environment while keeping aircraft in the sky. For foreign carriers, it represents an opportunity to better utilize idle aircraft.
Whether this leads to long-term growth or merely serves as a stopgap still remains to be seen.
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