The Russian aviation industry has faced an acute shortage of fleet - this is no longer a forecast, but an accomplished fact, according to the Telegram channel "Fasten Your Seatbelts" with reference to the report of the Association of Air Transport Operators (AATO), which unites the largest airlines in the country.
The paradox of the situation is that the demand for transportation remains at its peak: seat occupancy reached 89.5%, which experts call the "absolute limit of the system." At the same time, foreign aircraft are rapidly retiring, and new Russian aircraft cannot yet compensate for the losses.
Airlines are forced to reduce supply on domestic routes, transferring aircraft to more profitable international flights in order to maintain financial stability, the channel notes. According to AATO, in January–February 2026, passenger traffic on domestic routes decreased by 1.6% compared to the same period last year, and on international routes it increased by 5.8%. At the same time, seat occupancy on foreign flights is higher: 90.5% on average and 91.6% on long-haul routes versus 88.3% on domestic routes.
Experts note that the main beneficiary of the redistribution of demand is Southeast Asia - due to the closure of part of the airspace and the escalation of the Middle East conflict.
At the same time, foreign airlines are actively increasing their presence in the Russian market: the number of flights in 2025 increased by 15.9% (to 148.6 thousand), and the number of passengers carried - by 21% (to 24.3 million people).
Read more on the topic:
