S7 Airlines Halts Plans for Components Factory in Saint Petersburg

Pilotcenter.net News reports that S7 Airlines, a Russian private carrier, has put a hold on its project to construct a factory for components in Saint Petersburg. The airline intended to invest approximately 7.5 billion rubles into this project in an effort to replace foreign-made components and ensure the continued operation of Russian-operated Western-made aircraft.

Initially approved in February 2024, the Saint Petersburg plant was slated for completion by 2027 and was set to employ around 300 workers tasked with producing blades for jet turbines. This plant would complement a similar facility operated by S7 Technics in Novosibirsk, where turbine blade repairs for Western-made jets have been carried out since October 2024.

The decision to freeze the project has left industry watchers speculating on the reasons behind it. Some suggest technical or financial issues could be at play, while others question whether the potential lifting of US sanctions on the Russian aviation industry, imposed post-Ukraine invasion, may have influenced the move. Notably, discussions around a potential removal of these sanctions gained traction in early March following shifts in US policy towards Russia and calls from the Russian side to lift aviation-related sanctions.

Most Russian airlines continue to operate Boeing and Airbus models, as efforts to ramp up production of Russian-made alternatives like the MC-21 airliner have been hindered by the unavailability of a Russian-made engine, such as the newly developed PD-14.

Recent reports indicate that some Russian operators have resorted to smuggling parts and components in order to maintain the operability of their airliner fleets amidst these challenges. The aviation industry landscape in Russia remains dynamic, with ongoing developments shaping the future of domestic aircraft manufacturing and operations.