newstodate.aero
JUL 07, 2005 (newstodate): The stress on the ageing fleet of Russian airlines will intensify over the coming years.
Today some 75 percent of all Russian traffic is carried on "legacy" Russian-built aircraft, 18 percent on western-built aircraft, and seven percent on new-generation Russian aircraft, according to a GECAS study.
Over the next two to seven years, the backbone of the existing Russian aircraft fleet will have to be replaced, including some 150 TU-134 by 2007 and some 200 TU-154 by 2010, as they will be barred from EU airspace.
The future for the Russian aircraft industry remains uncertain, though, despite recent endeavours by the state to enforce a reorganisation.
Russia currently turns out less than 10 new commercial aircraft annually, mainly TU-204 and IL-96, with the new Russian Regional Jet lurking on the horison.
The demand for new aircraft will therefore be around 50-75 aircraft annually, but while the Russian output remains unable to cope, the import of Western-built aircraft is hampered by import taxes above 40 percent.
Still, rising jet fuel prices may tip the scales as fuel comsumption by the ageing Russian-built aircraft average three times that of modern Western-built types.
Today some 75 percent of all Russian traffic is carried on "legacy" Russian-built aircraft, 18 percent on western-built aircraft, and seven percent on new-generation Russian aircraft, according to a GECAS study.
Over the next two to seven years, the backbone of the existing Russian aircraft fleet will have to be replaced, including some 150 TU-134 by 2007 and some 200 TU-154 by 2010, as they will be barred from EU airspace.
The future for the Russian aircraft industry remains uncertain, though, despite recent endeavours by the state to enforce a reorganisation.
Russia currently turns out less than 10 new commercial aircraft annually, mainly TU-204 and IL-96, with the new Russian Regional Jet lurking on the horison.
The demand for new aircraft will therefore be around 50-75 aircraft annually, but while the Russian output remains unable to cope, the import of Western-built aircraft is hampered by import taxes above 40 percent.
Still, rising jet fuel prices may tip the scales as fuel comsumption by the ageing Russian-built aircraft average three times that of modern Western-built types.