Aeroflot outsources C-checks to Russian provider

In February, the Engineering holding company completed a C-check on an Aeroflot Boeing 737-800 at its subsidiary Sibir Technics at Novosibirsk’s Tolmachevo airport. This is the first heavy check on an Aeroflot airliner performed in Russia outside the airline’s own maintenance capacities. Until now, Russia’s largest carrier would either did all maintenance work on its fleet at its own maintenance center or used the services of foreign MRO providers. Engineering has previously serviced aircraft operated by an Aeroflot subsidiary: its Mineralnye Vody-based facility performed C-checks on three Donavia Airbus A320s.

Aeroflot is declining to comment on further cooperation with Engineering, but we may assume that there will be more orders: given the current economic situation and the depreciating Russian rouble, having heavy maintenance done in Russia proves much cheaper than it would cost abroad. It appears, therefore, that Engineering may expect to get at least part of the workload which would previously go to foreign providers.