The severe domestic energy crisis has officially grounded Russia’s aviation sector right at the absolute peak of the summer tourist season. Despite a government ban on jet fuel exports enacted on June 1, wholesale fuel prices surged by 8.4% in just one month, marking a staggering 28% increase since the beginning of the year.
Southern Infrastructure Hits the Wall: At regional airports—especially across the Russian South—prices have ballooned by up to 64% since early June.
Going Under the Knife: The crisis is no longer just about soaring inflation; the fuel simply does not exist. Aleksan Mkyan, Vice President of Russia’s Alliance of Travel Agencies (ATA), confirmed that flights are facing mass cancellations because fueling companies have rationed supply by 20% to 30% for all carriers across the board.
Regional airlines like Azimuth have openly declared an acute crisis, warning that not a single carrier is receiving the fuel capacity required to operate. These severe fuel restrictions are poised to hit international carriers next, adding a new layer of isolation after the global aviation community and ICAO warned about the safety risks of flying over Russian airspace.
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