Airbus & Boeing Out, Yakovlev In: Russian Airlines Order 200 MC-21

Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovoit has stated that Russian airlines are to sign contracts for 200 MS-21 aircraft, with the certification process for the aircraft already underway. He was speaking at the 2025 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

Western aircraft manufacturers have lost the Russian market after Western countries imposed bans on aircraft from Russia entering their airspace. That resulted in hundreds of Boeing and Airbus planes being stranded in Russia, while sanctions meant they could no longer be serviced. Instead, Russia has been carrying out maintenance and has looked to speed up its own commercial aviation fleet to replace what is now an aging Airbus and Boeing fleet.

There are several Russian alternatives – the Sukhoi Superjet is already in service, including some international routes, with 100% Russian component aircraft of this type already undergoing test flights.

Starovoit also said that Russian airlines have carried over 40 million passengers since the beginning of 2025, and that three quarters of those passengers had travelled on domestic routes. That implies a total 2025 volume of around 100 million pax for the year, placing Russia as the world’s third largest air passenger market.

The MC-21 is built by Russia’s Yakovlev, a branch of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), itself a 92%-owned subsidiary of Russia’s state-owned aviation giant Rostec. It is the latest generation medium-haul aircraft, and has been focused on satisfying the most popular segment of the passenger transportation market in Russia. The aircraft are produced at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant. It is powered by the Russian-made Aviadvigatel PD-14 engine, which has been rigorously tested. The first mass-produced batch was delivered to a test facility in February this year, and features hollow titanium fan blades for reduced weight and incorporates at least 16 new Russian technological solutions. Production had been delayed due to sanctions, but the aircraft is now scheduled to enter service in 2026.

The MC-21 can be configured for up to 211 passengers and has a range of 5,100 km, making it highly suitable for short and medium haul flights throughout Russia and related regions. It is comparable to the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX. Aeroflot will take delivery of the first 18 aircraft, while the order for 200 MC-21 is worth an estimated US$18 billion.