Shortage of aircraft: Russia asks Vietnam for help
Russia has proposed leasing aircraft from Vietnamese airlines along with their crew and maintenance. Through this, Moscow plans to increase the number of flights between the two countries.
Aircraft shortage: Russia asks Vietnam for help
Russia has sent a proposal to Vietnam to lease aircraft from local airlines to Russian carriers on a "wet" lease basis.
This was announced by Russian Transport Minister Andrey Nikitin on September 9, following Russia–Vietnam negotiations held in Moscow.
In a "wet" lease, the aircraft is not merely rented out, but its crew, maintenance, and other operational services also remain the responsibility of the lessor.
Nikitin said that the Russian side has presented the relevant proposals to Vietnam, and they are currently under consideration.
The Russian Transport Minister noted that the tourist flow between the two countries has significantly increased. According to his data, in 2026, the air traffic indicator between Russia and Vietnam increased nearly threefold compared to 2025.
Moscow believes that "wet" leasing aircraft from Vietnamese airlines will allow for a further increase in the number of flights between the two countries.
Russia has previously negotiated with other countries regarding the lease of foreign aircraft under this arrangement. Among them are Central Asian countries, Qatar, Kuwait, and Ethiopia.
In the summer of 2025, Ethiopia rejected Russia's proposal. The country's officials stated that they did not have the authority to make decisions regarding the leasing of Ethiopian Airlines aircraft. Risks associated with potential US secondary sanctions were also noted.
So far, there have been no reports of Russian airlines reaching an agreement on "wet" leasing with foreign carriers.
The need of Russian airlines for additional aircraft is growing against the backdrop of difficulties in purchasing and repairing Boeing and Airbus liners. Aircraft from these two manufacturers make up nearly two-thirds of Russia's civil aviation fleet and serve 90 percent of passenger traffic.
According to "Kommersant" estimates, in the summer, 130 out of 673 aircraft in Russia's 11 major airlines did not perform flights. This is equivalent to nearly one-fifth of the fleet.
In April 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized domestic airlines to lease foreign aircraft on a "wet" lease basis.