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Russia is seeking new ways to update its airline fleet as Western sanctions have blocked access to Airbus and Boeing aircraft, as well as spare parts needed for maintenance. In response, Russian airlines have begun producing unapproved spare parts locally and are now looking abroad for further solutions.
Recently, Russia has focused on Africa, specifically Ethiopian Airlines, which is the largest carrier on the continent by both fleet size and passenger numbers. During a meeting at the end of July between Russia's Trade Commissioner in Ethiopia, Yaroslav Tarasyuk, and the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA), officials discussed expanding cooperation in air transport management. The discussions built upon an existing Ethiopia-Russia Air Services Agreement that took effect last year.
The meeting included proposals such as supplying aviation communication and surveillance equipment to Russia, constructing an aircraft repair center in Addis Ababa, and potentially wet-leasing Ethiopian Airlines aircraft to Russian carriers. Details of any possible wet-lease agreement were not disclosed. However, earlier this year Russia announced it would permit its airlines to wet-lease planes from foreign companies, making such an arrangement with Ethiopian Airlines possible.
