Large increase in the price of Russian-made airliners, local media reports

The Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia)

The cost of Russian-made civilian aircraft has risen considerably during the last couple of years, according to a report appeared in Russian publication Izvestia, which has seen internal documents for Russia’s Ministry of Transport. 

According to this report, the cost of an MC-21 mid-sized airliner is currently 7.6 billion rubles, or about USUSD 9.6 million, an increase of 65% over the initial projections. 

Likewise, the Il-114-300 regional turboprop is priced at 2.6 billion rubles (USUSD 32.9 million) apiece, an 80% increase over the previous price of 1.44 billion rubles (USUSD 18.2 million). The first three units of the aircraft, expected to complete its certification process by the end of 2025, may be priced even higher, at around four billion rubles per aircraft, or about USUSD 50 million. 

Likewise, the smaller UZGA LMS-901 Baikal single-engined aircraft, would be priced at around 320 million rubles (USUSD 4 million approximately), nearly 80% above earlier pricing estimates of 178 rubles apiece (USUSD 2.25 million). 

Sources in the industry quoted by Izvestia noted that costs had evolved in line with changes in market conditions, and that they are expected to go down by 2030 thanks to increased production runs. 

In any case, according to these reports, the Russian authorities appear to have instructed state-owned aircraft lessor GTLK to work on formulas to facilitate access to domestically produced aircraft by Russian airlines. These schemes may involve prolonged leasing periods of seven to ten years, plus the involvement of the ‘National Welfare Fund’, one of Russia’s sovereign financial reserves, to subsidize interest rates on leases.  

The cost of Russian-made civilian aircraft has risen considerably during the last couple of years, according to a report appeared in Russian publication Izvestia, which has seen internal documents for Russia’s Ministry of Transport. 

According to this report, the cost of an MC-21 mid-sized airliner is currently 7.6 billion rubles, or about USUSD 9.6 million, an increase of 65% over the initial projections. 

Likewise, the Il-114-300 regional turboprop is priced at 2.6 billion rubles (USUSD 32.9 million) apiece, an 80% increase over the previous price of 1.44 billion rubles (USUSD 18.2 million). The first three units of the aircraft, expected to complete its certification process by the end of 2025, may be priced even higher, at around four billion rubles per aircraft, or about USUSD 50 million. 

Likewise, the smaller UZGA LMS-901 Baikal single-engined aircraft, would be priced at around 320 million rubles (USUSD 4 million approximately), nearly 80% above earlier pricing estimates of 178 rubles apiece (USUSD 2.25 million). 

Sources in the industry quoted by Izvestia noted that costs had evolved in line with changes in market conditions, and that they are expected to go down by 2030 thanks to increased production runs. 

In any case, according to these reports, the Russian authorities appear to have instructed state-owned aircraft lessor GTLK to work on formulas to facilitate access to domestically produced aircraft by Russian airlines. These schemes may involve prolonged leasing periods of seven to ten years, plus the involvement of the ‘National Welfare Fund’, one of Russia’s sovereign financial reserves, to subsidize interest rates on leases.