Boeing Seeks to Reenter Russian Market Despite Domestic Rivalry

The US corporation Boeing is eager to resume aircraft deliveries and maintenance in Russia, but it may be too late. According to insiders and shareholder statements, Boeing is ready to return to the market. However, Stanislav Ryzhakov, a former deputy chief designer of Tupolev, notes that Americans will only return if the domestic airliner program fails.

Roman Gusarov, editor-in-chief of the AVIA.RU portal, estimates that the Russian market for aircraft and maintenance is valued at tens of billions of dollars over 15-20 years. This estimate includes spare parts and maintenance, not just deliveries. Gusarov believes Boeing's persistence is due to the potential loss of this market if domestic airliners are successfully developed.

The expert notes that Russia has invested heavily in its own aircraft industry, making it unlikely to let a competitor like Boeing back into the market. The Russian fleet includes 1088 airworthy aircraft, with about 620 being Western-made and an average age of 17 years. By 2030, a third of the fleet may be retired.

Boeing participated in an attempt to paralyze Russian aviation in 2022 by cutting off maintenance, withdrawing training centers, and destroying simulators for pilot training. Gusarov warns that Russia has already invested too much in its own aircraft industry to let Boeing back in. However, if sanctions on the aviation industry and banking sector are lifted, Boeing is willing to resume purchasing Russian titanium, which makes up every third of its aircraft.