Russia’s government has formally approved rules allowing the wet-lease of aircraft from foreign operators, extending the earlier legislative change which permitted domestic wet-leasing.
Wet-leasing from domestic carriers was introduced to Russia’s Air Code last year and legislators subsequently started working on a further amendment to allow international aircraft sourcing.
Russian prime minister Mikhail Mishustin signed the approval on 19 September.
It states that the regulation will enter force on 1 March 2026 and remain in effect until 1 March 2032.
The rules establish the procedure of obtaining an operating permit, issued by the ministry of transport, for a leased civil aircraft and crew from a “foreign aviation enterprise” with which to conduct air transport of passengers or cargo.
According to the document, seen by FlightGlobal and dated 18 September, the applicant must provide details of the planned lease to the ministry, which will verify it.
If the ministry is dissatisfied, it can refuse issue of the permit, but otherwise will forward the application to the federal security service as well as the federal aviation regulator Rosaviatsia for clearance.
Aeroflot has already taken advantage of the changes allowing wet-leasing, and has previously indicated interest in leasing from foreign markets.
