Aeroflot Launches Jet Engine Repair Facility by 2028 Amidst Rising Sanction-Related Challenges

Russia’s primary airline, Aeroflot, announced the establishment of a new company that will construct a jet engine repair facility, slated to open in 2028. This development comes in response to increasing concerns about engine malfunctions that have arisen amid Western sanctions following Russia’s extensive invasion of Ukraine three years ago, according to CEO Sergei Alexandrovsky in an interview excerpt shared by the business newspaper Kommersant.

Once fully operational, the facility is expected to conduct up to 70 major engine repairs annually, accommodating various engine types. The facility is planned to provide maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for the CFM engines, a collaboration between France and the U.S., and for Russian-manufactured PD-8 and PD-14 engines.

Details regarding the plant’s financial investment and exact location remain sparse.

The U.S. and EU embargo on the supply of aircraft and parts to Russia has significantly impacted a large portion of Aeroflot’s fleet. In fact, unresolved engine problems have resulted in Russian airlines grounding half of their Airbus A320neo family aircraft, as reported by Kommersant last fall.

Between December and January, there were 11 reported engine failures over a 50-day period, alongside five incidents occurring in October and November.

Moscow has approached Washington, seeking the lifting of sanctions on Aeroflot to allow for the resumption of direct flights to the United States, particularly following Donald Trump’s anticipated return to the presidency this year.

The American Chamber of Commerce in Russia has also advocated for the removal of sanctions on the Russian aviation sector, citing it as a «humanitarian necessity,» particularly in light of indications that the U.S. is considering a list to potentially alleviate such sanctions.

As a result of Western countries closing their airspace to Russian airlines in retaliation for the invasion of Ukraine, Aeroflot lost access to many of its most lucrative routes.