Russia’s Transport Ministry has proposed tighter rules for granting local airlines access to international routes, with a draft that could bar carriers from overseas services if regulators find at least three unresolved mandatory violations. The proposal also allows a single unimplemented or late-implemented regulatory order to block approval, while revising the scoring system used to rank airlines for international route rights.
The draft is under public consultation, which began on 6 August and runs until 20 August. It would replace a system in which violations mainly mattered when several airlines competed for the same route, making compliance a direct gatekeeper before route allocation. Carriers would also be assessed more heavily on operational and commercial criteria, including use of Russian-built aircraft made after 2009, fewer delays and stronger passenger demand.
The move comes as Russian aviation continues to face sanctions pressure and spare-parts shortages, raising the stakes for fleet reliability and regulatory compliance. The proposal remains a draft and has not been adopted.