Russian authorities are considering a new surcharge on airline tickets to help finance leasing and operating costs for domestically built aircraft, including the MC-21, SJ-100 and Tu-214. The proposal, discussed by the Transport Ministry, Industry and Trade Ministry and Rostec, would shift part of the cost of Russia’s import-substitution aviation programme onto passengers while airlines receive support for using locally produced jets.
The measure is still at an early stage and no final decision has been taken on either the size of the fee or how it would be collected. The main version under discussion would add up to 500 rubles to domestic tickets and 1,000 rubles to international fares, while another option would set the levy higher at 700 rubles and 2,000 rubles respectively.
Funds would be channelled through the Transport Ministry to leasing companies and, initially, to carriers to offset the gap between the production cost of Russian aircraft and the lower prices airlines would pay under state support. Reporting linked to the proposal estimates the scheme could raise about 200 billion to 250 billion rubles between 2027 and 2030, or roughly 68 billion to 84 billion rubles a year at current traffic levels.