Russia is considering a levy on airline tickets from 2027 to help cover the costs of leasing and operating 258 aircraft. The proposed rates are 500 rubles for domestic flights and 1,000 rubles for international flights, according to a budget committee report cited by Interfax.
The proposal is being developed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade on instructions from President Vladimir Putin. It is not an approved or active charge: the federal budget bill’s passage through its first reading on October 29 did not itself enact the surcharge.
The funding is linked to Russia’s aircraft production program, which includes the MS-21, Tu-214, SJ-100 and Il-114-300. The reporting does not establish how the levy would be collected or who would be legally responsible for paying it, so the proposed rates should not be treated as confirmed additions to every passenger’s fare.
Aircraft targets have been pushed back
Russia’s civilian aircraft program has repeatedly missed production deadlines. The target for large-scale production was moved from 2030 to 2035 in 2026. Certification and the start of serial production for the MS-21 and SJ-100 are scheduled for 2027, while deliveries of the certified Il-114-300 are promised from December 2026.
Between 2022 and 2025, Russian airlines received 13 new aircraft, compared with a planned 120, according to the source material. Western sanctions imposed after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 cut off access to many aircraft, spare parts and maintenance services, adding pressure to replace ageing planes.
The proposed levy appears in reporting on the 2027–2029 budget process. Its final rates, collection rules and implementation would require further decisions.
Clayton Ward