The ex-head of the Ilyushin company appreciated the plans of the aviation industry: we are switching to small planes

The fleet of long-haul aircraft will be reduced by almost half

The comprehensive program for the development of the Russian aviation industry, designed until 2030, has been significantly updated. The new version of the program has been approved by the Government of the Russian Federation. The former head of the Ilyushin company, Alexey Rogozin, saw in the change in the parameters of the program a radical change in the development priorities of the Russian aircraft industry: the emphasis is now placed not on long-haul aircraft, but on small regional aircraft.

The expert drew attention to several interesting facts in the updated comprehensive program. Excluding local airline aircraft (with a capacity of up to 20 passengers), the fleet of Russian airlines today amounts to 924 aircraft. In 2027, the number of aircraft should increase to 1,071 units, and by the end of the program, in 2030, to 1,187 aircraft.

Thus, the planned growth of the aircraft fleet is 30%. It must be understood that the digital indicators were determined taking into account the “natural loss” of old aircraft, which will be taken out of service due to wear and tear and the inability to extend their service life.

At the same time, as Alexey Rogozin noted in his channel, the number of long-haul aircraft in Russian airlines will decrease from the current 111 units to 98 (2027), and then to 64 (2030). “The drop has almost doubled,” he stated. And this is not surprising, since, according to him, the order for Russian long-range Il-96 aircraft in the Il-96-300 modification is planned in a volume of no more than two aircraft per year.

Il-96 aircraft are mass-produced at the Voronezh Aviation Plant. The plant is part of the Ilyushin company, which was headed by Alexey Rogozin some time ago. So I guess he knows what he’s talking about.

Il-96s were built, among other things, for the special flight squad “Russia”, which was engaged in transporting senior state officials, including the president. Several years ago, such aircraft were delivered to Cuba.

Yes, four-engine Il-96s consume more fuel than twin-engine Boeings or Airbuses, but in terms of reliability they are in no way inferior to them, and in some aspects they are even superior.

Unlike long-haul aircraft, the number of which, according to the updated program, will decrease in Russia, the fleet of local airlines, that is, those that have a lower capacity and do not fly far, will increase sharply. Now it is 120 aircraft, by 2027 it will increase to 289 units, and by 2030 – to 572. The growth is 380%, that is, almost fourfold (!).

The conclusion that Alexey Rogozin draws is this: Russia expects a radical change in the structure of the aviation industry, with a transition from long-haul flights to local air transportation. “It is still unclear to me what dictated this decision, but such changes will be radical,” the expert concludes.