iFly Airlines Begins Layoffs After Transferring Aircraft to Aeroflot: Only 300 People to Remain

Layoffs have begun at the Russian airline iFly. The carrier plans to retain up to 300 personnel needed to support operations and cooperation with Aeroflot under a wet lease agreement. Informed sources in the aviation industry reported this to Kommersant.

Pilots and flight attendants, engineering and technical specialists, and a number of employees from the accounting and legal departments will keep their jobs. The source emphasized that employees are being dismissed in accordance with current legislation — with all due payments.

Before the reduction, about 1,000 people worked at iFly, according to another source. According to reports at the end of 2021, the average number of employees was 725, and in 2025 — 586 people. This difference is explained by the fact that the average number does not include employees who work under a GPH (civil law) contract or part-time. iFly did not comment on the issue of staff reductions.

About iFly Airlines

The carrier iFly received its operator certificate in 2009. Until 2022, the company cooperated with major tour operators, including Tez Tour and TUI, and operated international flights.

After the introduction of Western sanctions against Russian aviation, iFly's fleet decreased. In 2024, the company leased 3 Airbus A330s to Aeroflot. The following year, the airline gave its last (fourth) A330 aircraft to the country's largest carrier. A wet lease agreement (transfer of an aircraft together with its crew) has been signed between iFly and Aeroflot. The agreement is valid until the end of 2027.

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