Airline halts ticket sales

The maintenance and spare parts crisis straining regional airlines in Russia has reached a point where Yakutia has suspended its flights. The Siberia-based airline halted ticket sales after the last airworthy turboprop aircraft in its fleet was taken out of operation.

Founded in 2002 and serving the Sakha Republic in the country's Far East, Yakutia's local flights became impossible to operate due to a malfunction in its De Havilland Canada DHC-8 aircraft. It was stated that a problem was detected in a part of the aircraft's right landing gear—also known as the Dash 8 and Bombardier Q300—and that the company is waiting for the part to be replaced.

THE SPARE PARTS PROBLEM DEEPENS

Following the war in Ukraine, sanctions imposed by Western countries and airspace restrictions have made it difficult for the Russian aviation sector to access parts used in the maintenance of Western-made aircraft. This situation makes it more costly and difficult for aging fleets to continue operations.

Before the war, Yakutia operated flights to various international destinations as well as domestic routes within Russia during peak periods. It was reported that the company was among the Russian airlines considered to be at financial risk at the beginning of 2025 due to problems accessing foreign parts and a decline in passenger numbers.

The only problem limiting air transport in the region was not limited to the aircraft fleet. It was reported that operations at Ust-Nera Airport were suspended on the grounds that the runways were not suitable for safe takeoffs and landings. This development has further narrowed transportation options in the vast Sakha Republic.

Similar problems have previously come to the fore in Russia. In July, the air operator certificate of the regional airline Izhavia was revoked following a safety audit; it was stated that numerous faulty aircraft parts or parts lacking the necessary certifications were detected during the inspections.