Russian carrier S7 Airlines has taken a significant step towards bolstering its fleet with domestically produced aircraft by signing a tripartite memorandum of understanding for up to 100 Tupolev Tu-214 medium-haul jets.
The agreement, inked on 4 February 2026 during the NAIS 2026 civil aviation infrastructure exhibition in Moscow, involves S7 Group, United Aircraft Corporation (UAC, part of state-owned Rostec), and the State Transport Leasing Company (GTLK). This MoU builds on earlier discussions from 2024 and signals Russia’s push to expand indigenous aviation manufacturing amid ongoing sanctions that restrict access to Western-built aircraft.
Under the non-binding accord, S7 Airlines intends to take delivery of the Tu-214s—configured for enhanced performance and tailored to the carrier’s operational needs, including a potential two-crew cockpit and capacity for up to 213 passengers—starting in 2029. GTLK will serve as the financial lessor and customer, while S7 commits to full lifecycle support, including maintenance, engineering, and crew training.
The parties aim to negotiate and finalise binding contracts by the end of 2026, detailing precise volumes, delivery timelines, financial terms, and other conditions. No specific pricing has been disclosed, though such large-scale deals in Russia’s current market context could involve substantial state-backed financing, with individual Tu-214 unit costs historically estimated in the tens of millons of euro equivalent.
The move underscores S7’s strategy to reduce reliance on imported narrow-body types like the Airbus A320 family, which it has operated extensively, while supporting national efforts to ramp up Tu-214 production at facilities such as those in Kazan. As one of Russia’s largest private airlines with hubs in Moscow, Novosibirsk, and Irkutsk, S7 sees the Tu-214 as a viable replacement for ageing or sanctioned Western jets on domestic and regional routes. Industry observers note that while the MoU represents ambitious intent—one of the largest recent commitments for Russian-built commercial aircraft—actual fulfilment will depend on production scaling, certification updates, and economic factors over the coming years.
