US blocks exports of "American" parts and supplies to three Russian airlines

The US continues to battle Russian airlines with sanctions in response to the invasion of Ukraine. Aeroflot, Azur Air and UTair, three Russian airlines, are circumventing US administration restrictions on domestic flights within Russia, or international flights to countries that have not closed their entry. 

On Thursday, 7 April, the US Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security ordered the denial of export privileges to the three airlines listed above.  According to a statement from the Biden administration, the three temporary orders, which apply for 180 days, prevent the airlines from engaging in transactions subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR)'s special regulations regarding US-origin products. This is the first export-related sanction taken by the Bureau of Industry and Security.

The department, headed by Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, is seeking to prevent the three Russian airlines from receiving US-produced and licensed goods. 

Aeroflot, Azur Air and UTair operate Boeing and other aircraft. Since 2 March, the US administration has required a special licence for all aircraft with at least 25 per cent US components. This particularly affects those Boeing 777s and 737s flown by Russian airlines. The new US sanctions seek to cut off the supply of parts, spare parts and everything necessary for the maintenance of the aircraft. 

The situation is serious, and as specialised media such as Aviación Digital point out, the lack of services and parts for these aircraft seriously calls into question the safety of Russian airlines' planes. "The international sanctions are going to make it difficult to guarantee adequate maintenance of the airworthiness of aircraft operated by Russian airline operators", indicates Aviación Digital in an article dated 16 March, when the Department of Commerce had already enacted two packages of sanctions and was preparing a third for the 18th. As this specialised media outlet exemplifies, some countries have withdrawn the flight certificates of the Russian companies affected, due to a lack of safety guarantees.

"We are cutting off not only their ability to access US goods, but also re-exports of US-origin goods from abroad. Any company that circumvents our export controls, specifically those that do so to the benefit of Vladimir Putin and to the detriment of the Ukrainian people, will feel the full force of the Department's enforcement," Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told a press conference. 

Aeroflot, Azur Air and UTair operate a variety of aircraft subject to US export restrictions, with flights having been made to China, India and Turkey. 

It remains to be seen how effective the Biden administration's sanctions will actually be, and whether the Russians will be able to circumvent them. Since the airspace closure, Russian companies do not operate in territories under US administration, and circumventing sanctions may be possible. Reselling the components through other companies could be a possibility for Russian companies, although this is also considered subject to US sanctions. 

Americas Coordinator: José Antonio Sierra