Airlines
Russia Launches Rescue Bid for Debt-Laden UTair
The Russian government has agreed to provide debt guarantees for UTair, but less than half the aid the struggling airline requested.
Older Boeing 737-500s are among the aircraft that UTair has been cutting from its fleet in a bid to control costs. [Photo: Vladimir Karnozov]
Older Boeing 737-500s are among the aircraft that UTair has been cutting from its fleet in a bid to control costs. [Photo: Vladimir Karnozov]

Russia’s government has agreed to support UTair with 19 billion rubles ($328 million) in guarantees for the struggling airline’s creditors. In an April 1 statement, economic development minister Alexei Ulyukaev said the government had declined a UTair request for 40 billion rubles ($690 million) and he called on the airline’s owners to “take [on financial] obligations as part of the rescue effort.”