Russian airlines have weeks to either source alternative supplies of banned aircraft parts or start grounding jets to avoid safety concerns as Western sanctions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine threaten their post-Soviet revival.
Moscow took a first step this week towards keeping its commercial fleet flying by allowing its airlines to re-register leased planes in Russia, giving local authorities direct control over the certificates of airworthiness needed for each jet.
That reverses a two-decades-old agreement allowing leasing companies to keep hundreds of jets registered in Bermuda because of worries over Russia's legal system — a transfer of authority that has long been a source of irritation to Russian officials.