In a groundbreaking move, Aeroflot is set to make history by being the first airline in Russia to fly three Airbus A330 aircraft under a wet-lease agreement. This decision comes on the heels of recent revisions to Russia’s air transport regulations, allowing airlines to lease aircraft complete with crews for domestic operations.

Following an initial announcement on November 30, 2024, Aeroflot is gearing up to acquire three Airbus A330s from the Moscow-based charter carrier iFLY. With this agreement finalized, Aeroflot is poised to expand its Airbus A330 fleet to 15 aircraft, effectively bolstering its capacity to meet the demand on high-traffic domestic routes.

Pilotcenter.net News notes that the newly leased A330s will be put into service on long-haul flights from Moscow to key destinations in eastern Russia, such as Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. This move signifies a landmark shift in the Russian aviation sector, as articulated by Dmitry Yadrov, head of the Federal Air Transport Agency, who remarked, “The wet leasing of an aircraft with a crew to perform flights in Russia is a new mechanism that will contribute to the development of civil aviation in our country. For carriers that take aircraft on wet lease, this will allow them to quickly expand their fleets, for example, during periods of high demand or when new routes are introduced. Transferring aircraft provides an opportunity for the airline to reduce the costs of commercial fleet management and payroll. In other words, wet leasing will positively impact the operations of all parties involved, ultimately enhancing the volume of air transportation and the mobility of our citizens.”

Until recently, wet leasing had been prohibited in Russia due to regulatory and geopolitical challenges, including sanctions and conflicts with the EU and the US. Tight restrictions on foreign aircraft flying in Russian airspace further compounded the issue. The process of wet leasing, which entails leasing aircraft along with crews, maintenance, and insurance, typically involves foreign operators. However, navigating Russia's stringent regulations pertaining to aircraft registration and foreign crews had made wet leasing a complex affair. Foreign carriers had to secure special agreements, a cumbersome process at best.

However, a significant turning point came in the form of an amendment to the Air Code in early August 2024, which officially sanctioned wet leasing. The amendment, which took effect on September 1, 2024, paved the way for the adoption of this practice and opened the door to greater flexibility and growth opportunities in the Russian aviation industry.