Aeroflot Group has expanded its fleet with eight additional aircraft during the third quarter, including several Boeing freighters that industry observers believe may be acquired primarily for spare-parts support rather than active service, as Western aircraft sanctions continue to constrain Russia’s aviation sector.
The group confirmed that two Boeing 747-400ERFs and two Boeing 737-800BCFs have been transferred into the fleet and placed with its subsidiary Rossiya Airlines. Aeroflot did not disclose the origin of the aircraft; however, both types were previously operated by Volga-Dnepr Group carriers—AirBridgeCargo (ABC) and Atran—which have been largely grounded since the onset of the Russia–Ukraine conflict.
ABC historically operated Boeing 747-400 freighters, while Atran operated 737-800 cargo aircraft. Earlier reports from Russian business outlet Kommersant indicated that Aeroflot Group was expecting to receive eight freighters in total: six 737-800Fs and two 747-400Fs. The publication further suggested that the aircraft were likely procured not for commercial operations but as donor platforms to support maintenance across Aeroflot Group’s Western-built fleet.
Russia’s access to spare parts, technical support, and maintenance services for Boeing and Airbus aircraft has been severely restricted due to international sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine. As a result, Russian airlines have increasingly relied on grounded or repossessed aircraft domestically to maintain fleet availability.
Volga-Dnepr Group’s Western-manufactured fleet has remained effectively grounded for over two years. Sanctions bar the cargo group’s airlines—including AirBridgeCargo and Atran—from European and North American airspace, while international lessors continue to pursue legal avenues for aircraft recovery. This has left several freighters stranded in Russia, with limited operational prospects.
Adding another layer of uncertainty, Russian media reported in September that Volga-Dnepr Group may be sold to Yevgeny Solodilin, former chief executive of Red Wings Airlines. Any such transition could further reshape the country’s airfreight landscape, which has already undergone dramatic restructuring since 2022.
For Aeroflot Group, the latest fleet additions offer a potential lifeline for maintaining service continuity across its mixed Boeing fleet—though the aircraft themselves may never return to international skies.
