Russian airlines are feeling the impact of sanctions imposed by world leaders to punish Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The domino effect was created when the European Union required aircraft lessors to end their contracts with Russian airlines by March 28.
According to Henry Harteveldt, president of the Atmosphere Research Group, aircraft leasing companies may face challenges getting their planes out of Russia, where an estimated $12 billion worth of aircraft are currently stranded. Russian authorities and airlines are making the problems worse.
It is possible that the government could challenge the lessors ability to repossess these planes, claiming that Aeroflot is not doing any harm by operating the aircraft domestically.
Russia could be further isolated due to the fact that Boeing and Airbus stopped the supply of spare parts to the nation.
Boeing said in a statement to CNN that it has suspended major operations in Moscow and temporarily closed its office in Kyiv.
The Guardian reported that the company will stop sending supplies to Russia, though it is still deciding whether to keep its Moscow operation open. About two-thirds of commercial planes in Russia are from Boeing and Airbus.
Without the required repairs, planes could not fly. As more countries close their airspace to Russian airlines, it will be difficult for companies to find a place outside of Russia to service their aircraft, maintenance experts told the news agency.
Russia could turn to seedy alternatives like unauthorized parts from China or under-the-table supplies from Iran if inventory runs out, according to the head of Russian AviaPort analytical agency.
If third countries say they are afraid of sanctions, Russia would need to find suppliers.
Nick Cunningham, an analyst with Agency Partners, said that the move to use potentially uncertified parts could make Russian planes worthless outside the former Soviet Union.
Russia will have to create a maintenance system for some types of aircraft. Panteleev explained that it will need to cannibalise some aircraft for use as spare parts.
Peter Walter, an industry consultant at IBA, said that he expects airlines to begin robbing planes on the ground in Russia in order to keep the rest of the fleet operational.
Russian airlines will not be able to accept the over 60 planes on order from Boeing and Airbus due to US and EU sanctions, according to the planemakers websites.
Russia is considering buying or even nationalizing hundreds of Boeing and Airbus planes in order to be able to compete with them.
Cunningham said that the lessors may have to take a writeoff.
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