Most Soviet-era planes are 20 years or older and will have to be scrapped in the next few years, experts say. New planes are vital, but the airlines cannot afford them. Comparable Western planes are more expensive. And the Russian aircraft industry is in even worse shape than the airlines. Soviet factories churned out about 2,500 aircraft a year, Fedosov said.
Russian plants produce just a few dozen, mostly helicopters or military jets for export.
Western airplane manufacturers hoped for a major new market in Russia following the Soviet collapse. A few Russian airlines have leased Western airliners produced by Boeing and Airbus, but actual sales have been almost nonexistent. Industry executives hope the government will find funds to keep civil aviation from crashing, but are not optimistic. The Associated Press. All rights reserved.