Half of Russia’s A320/A321neo Fleet Grounded Amid Engine Issues and Sanctions
Half of the Airbus A320/A321neo aircraft operated in Russia are out of service due to technical issues. Out of a total of 66 aircraft of this family, 34 have been grounded, and up to 20 of them may never return to operation, according to sources cited in a report by the Russian newspaper Kommersant.
The engines on these aircraft, the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G and CFM LEAP, face maintenance challenges in the country due to their technological complexity and the inability to import spare parts, a direct result of Western sanctions and global market shortages. According to Kommersant, this situation could lead to a massive withdrawal of these aircraft starting in 2026, which would represent nearly 10% of the entire foreign fleet in Russia.
The most affected airline is S7, with 31 of its 39 A320/A321neo out of service. Among these, eight A321neo have been parked since 2023, and 18 A320neo were gradually grounded this year. According to sources cited by Kommersant, the company plans to reserve these aircraft for use during the high season, although the engines of more than 20 planes are said to be «practically exhausted.»
Meanwhile, other airlines such as Aeroflot, Ural Airlines, North Wind, and Smartavia are facing similar problems, albeit on a smaller scale. Ural Airlines, for instance, has reduced the operational use of its A320/A321neo fleet to preserve engine life during the winter.
