Three dozen small and medium-sized airlines in Russia may go bankrupt due to the write-off of leasing debts. This was stated by the Association of Air Transport Operators. We tell you what happened.
Many air carriers in Russia stopped paying under leasing agreements in 2022 after the introduction of sanctions. The Russian government allowed the write-off of debts in 2025, but the authorities plan to charge a 25% income tax on these amounts.
Market participants told reporters that some airlines may become bankrupt due to the payment of increased tax. Their certificates may be revoked, and the aircraft fleet will be redistributed among major players.
The Association of Air Transport Operators believes that problems will begin for airlines that occupy about 26% of the air transportation market. Mass bankruptcy is possible.
According to Andrey Patrakov, founder of the flight safety and certification service RunAvia, Russian aircraft were massively registered in European countries and Bermuda. On average, air carriers paid $80–150 thousand per month for an Airbus A320.
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