Aircraft
Russia Restricting Access to Boeing and Airbus Airliners
The Federation's import body has denied an import license to Pobeda Airlines for 30 737 Max jets while Rosaviatsiya withholds A220 certification.
Pobeda Airlines Boeing 737-800s feature "Max-like" split scimitar winglets from Aviation Partners Boeing. (Photo: Vladimir Karnozov)
Pobeda Airlines Boeing 737-800s feature "Max-like" split scimitar winglets from Aviation Partners Boeing. (Photo: Vladimir Karnozov)

The Kremlin appears to have begun taking practical steps to narrow local carriers' choices in new, expensive equipment made outside of the country, a move that high-ranking government officials heralded a couple of years ago. This month, the Kremlin denied an import license to Aeroflot low-fare subsidiary Pobeda for 30 additional Boeing 737 Max jetliners. Meanwhile, the Airbus A220-300 failed to acquire local certification, effectively stalling plans by Moscow-based Red Wings to take six of the narrowbodies from a local lessor.