Russia asks Kazakhstan for help with its domestic air travel as its air fleet shrinks

Western sanctions have driven Russia to seek help from Kazakhstan. The country’s fleet has significantly thinned out, so Russia is proposing Kazakhstani airlines enter the Russian domestic market to operate local flights. The relevant negotiations are already underway, as reported by The Moscow Times, citing the Russian Ministry of Transport. 

«We are speaking about the so-called cabotage transportation when a foreign airline conducts passenger operations within another country. Currently, only domestic airlines are eligible to operate such flights in Russia. We are examining a cabotage option due to the fleet shortage,» explained Roman Starovoyt, the minister of transport of Russia.

According to The Moscow Times, Russia had approximately 850 aircraft before the war with Ukraine. However, just a year later, the fleet had already shrunk to 736. This decline is largely due to sanctions, which have restricted Russia’s access to spare parts and new aircraft. Under some forecasts, Russia can lose half of its aircraft fleet within two years.

To deal with the shortage, Russian authorities announced the establishment of self-engineered aircraft production and even launched the development program for the domestic aviation industry. However, shortly after falling far behind schedule — producing only one Tu-214 and one Il-96-300 aircraft — funding for the program was significantly reduced.