Russian region halts flights on EU-made planes
Russia’s Far Eastern Kamchatka Region has suspended the operation of Czech-made L-410 short-range aircraft, local authorities have told the RBK news outlet.
The agency reported on Wednesday that flights of the foreign-made planes had been halted because of a lack of spare parts due to EU sanctions imposed over the conflict in Ukraine.
According to RBK, the move was confirmed by the press services of both the regional government and the Avrora carrier, which co-own the Kamchatka Air Enterprise that operates the L-410s.
The working lifespan of some systems on the Czech planes has ended, which makes them unusable in line with Russian law, a representative of the Kamchatka authorities told the outlet. “Such a situation has been caused by difficulties with supplies [of spare parts] using the parallel import mechanism,” the official said.
An unnamed employee of Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade also acknowledged in a comment to RBK that the use of alternative supply channels has led to significant complications with logistics chains, an increase in prices, and delays in deliveries.
Avrora spokesman Artur Di assured the outlet that the Czech planes will return to the air as soon as the issues with the supply of spare parts are resolved.
The carrier said that, in the meantime, other types of aircraft will be used to transport passengers across the Kamchatka Peninsula. Kamchatka Air Enterprise reportedly also operates Soviet-designed An-26, An-28, and Yak-40 planes, as well as helicopters of the Mi-8 family.
The L-410 is a twin-engine short-range plane produced by the Czech company Aircraft Industries. It can take between 17 and 19 passengers on board. It is also available in a cargo modification.
Planes and helicopters are the main means of transportation on the Kamchatka Peninsula, a remote and sparsely populated area with difficult terrain consisting of mountains and thick forests.
In early 2023, another Russian region, the Komi Republic, also grounded its L-410s, citing EU sanctions and a lack of spare parts.
