newstodate.aero
AUG 19, 2005 (newstodate): Russia is reportedly considering to suspend the prohibitive import tax on western-built aircraft.
Russian airlines are in dire need for modernisation of their ageing aircraft fleets that are operated at very high operational costs, contributing to further driving down the generally falling profitability of the industry.
An import tax up to 50 percent is currently imposed as a means to protect the country's own aircraft industry, but this tax may be waived by the Russian Ministry of Transportation from next year already to allow airlines to import western-built aircraft that do not have an immediate Russian-built alternative, sources say.
In the mid-range aircraft segment alone, the backbone of the existing Russian aircraft fleet will have to be replaced over the next two to seven years, including some 150 TU-134 by 2007 and some 200 TU-154 by 2010, as they will be barred from EU airspace.
Russian airlines are in dire need for modernisation of their ageing aircraft fleets that are operated at very high operational costs, contributing to further driving down the generally falling profitability of the industry.
An import tax up to 50 percent is currently imposed as a means to protect the country's own aircraft industry, but this tax may be waived by the Russian Ministry of Transportation from next year already to allow airlines to import western-built aircraft that do not have an immediate Russian-built alternative, sources say.
In the mid-range aircraft segment alone, the backbone of the existing Russian aircraft fleet will have to be replaced over the next two to seven years, including some 150 TU-134 by 2007 and some 200 TU-154 by 2010, as they will be barred from EU airspace.