Russia considers new fee on airline passengers to fund purchases of Russian-made aircraft

Russia's Transport, Industry, and Trade Ministries, along with the state corporation Rostec, are contemplating a new passenger fee to help finance the leasing and operation of domestically-made aircraft, according to sources familiar with the proposal. The fee's exact amount remains undetermined but is said to be between 500 and 700 rubles for domestic flights and 1,000 to 2,000 rubles for international flights.

The Transport Ministry could administer the fee, with some of the revenue distributed to leasing companies to cover the cost difference between the aircraft's production and subsidized prices for carriers. A portion would also go to airlines to offset higher operating costs compared to foreign-made models. If current passenger volumes persist, the fee could generate 200-250 billion rubles between 2027 and 2030, after which it may become unnecessary as aircraft become more affordable.

The proposal is still in its early stages, and no final decisions have been made regarding the fee's amount or collection method, stated a government source. Analysts cautioned that higher ticket prices could lead to reduced passenger traffic, revenue for airlines and airports, and tax receipts, proposing the use of government funds to cover initial operating costs for the new aircraft.

Since September 2025, passengers have already been charged 150 rubles each to fund airfield renovations, with the fee adjusted annually for inflation. The MC-21, a Russian-made aircraft, costs between 8.9 and 11 billion rubles to produce, compared to 3.4-4 billion rubles for Airbus A320-200s and Boeing 737-800s. The SJ-100, produced in Russia, is estimated at 5.4 billion rubles, while a comparable Embraer E190 sells for about 3 billion rubles.

The Tu-214 and Il-114 are estimated at 8.9 and 4 billion rubles, respectively. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Western countries have imposed sanctions, limiting the delivery of Western aircraft to Russia through unofficial channels at higher prices.