Aeroflot Group has finalized a firm order for 90 Yakovlev MC-21-310 narrowbody aircraft, securing a long-term fleet renewal strategy as international sanctions restrict access to Western-built airframes.

The agreement, signed on September 18, 2026, by subsidiaries of Rostec State Corporation and Aeroflot, includes a 22-year comprehensive technical support package. According to a press release from the Official Website of the President of Russia, the contract covers post-sale maintenance for 108 aircraft in total, encompassing the 90 newly ordered airframes and 18 previously contracted units. Russian President Vladimir Putin oversaw the signing ceremony via videoconference from The Kremlin, alongside an in-person event at Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO).

Delivery Schedule and Production Targets

Deliveries of the 90 newly ordered MC-21-310 aircraft are scheduled to occur between 2029 and 2032. Reporting by Interfax indicates a phased delivery schedule: 14 aircraft in 2029, 18 in 2030, 24 in 2031, and 34 in 2032.

Prior to this batch, Aeroflot is slated to receive its first 18 previously contracted MC-21 aircraft starting in 2027. The gap between the initial 2027 deliveries and the 2029 start of the larger order highlights the transition period required for United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) to scale up serial production of fully domestic components.

Rostec CEO Sergei Chemezov emphasized the industrial impact of the agreement, telling Interfax that the contract secures a clear production workload and establishes the foundation for a systematic ramp-up of serial manufacturing.

During the ceremony, President Putin noted the broader economic implications, stating that the long-term contract will fill the order books of domestic aircraft manufacturers, suppliers, and contractors.

Infrastructure Modernization and Domestic Connectivity

To support the integration of the new domestic fleet, the Russian government presented several newly completed aviation infrastructure projects during the September 18 event. The Kremlin reported that 20 runways and 26 airport terminal complexes have been commissioned across Russia since 2021.

Officials unveiled new passenger terminals at Barnaul Airport, Orenburg Airport, and Pskov Airport. Additional infrastructure upgrades included a new runway and air traffic control tower at Makhachkala Airport, alongside an upgraded air border crossing point at Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Airport.

The government outlined a target to modernize a minimum of 75 Russian airports by 2030. To maintain strategic air routes during this infrastructure and fleet transition, the federal budget allocated 50 billion rubles over the current and previous year for route subsidies.

Fleet Transition Strategy

The MC-21-310 serves as Russia’s primary domestic alternative to Western narrowbody aircraft. The comprehensive technical support agreement, involving UAC and United Engine Corporation (UEC), mandates that maintenance and component replacement remain entirely within the domestic aerospace ecosystem for the 22-year duration of the contract.

AirPro News analysis

We view this 90-aircraft order as a definitive indicator of Russia’s timeline for achieving aerospace autarky. While the firm order provides UAC with a guaranteed backlog, the delayed delivery window of 2029 to 2032 for the bulk of the fleet underscores the engineering and supply chain hurdles involved in substituting Western avionics, engines, and composite materials. The operational success of the MC-21 program will depend heavily on UEC’s ability to reliably produce and support the domestic PD-14 engines at scale, a capability that remains untested over a multi-decade commercial lifecycle.

Sources: Official Website of the President of Russia

Pre-owned aircraft inventory levels remained significantly lower in August 2026 compared to the previous year, driven by a 37.73 percent year-over-year drop in available used large jets.

In a press release issued on September 4, 2026, Sandhills Global published its August aviation market reports. The data indicates a continued tightening of supply in the pre-owned aircraft market compared to 2025, while asking prices displayed mixed trends across different aircraft categories.

Jet and turboprop market dynamics

According to the Sandhills Global report, the global used jet aircraft inventory increased by 1.09 percent month-over-month in August 2026. This slight monthly gain did not offset the broader trend, as total jet inventory fell 22.32 percent year-over-year. Global asking prices for used jets decreased by 0.88 percent from July 2026 and dropped 1.85 percent compared to August 2025.

The global used turboprop aircraft market exhibited a similar pattern. Inventory rose 4.04 percent month-over-month but remained 9.92 percent below August 2025 levels. Asking values for used turboprops decreased 2.35 percent month-over-month and saw a marginal 0.14 percent decline year-over-year.

Piston aircraft and Helicopters trends

In the United States and Canada, the used piston-single aircraft inventory rose 2.8 percent month-over-month in August 2026. Similar to the turbine markets, this category experienced an 11.75 percent year-over-year decrease. Asking values for used piston-single aircraft decreased 0.93 percent month-over-month and 1.6 percent year-over-year.

The global market for used Robinson piston helicopters saw inventory increase by 1.19 percent month-over-month, while year-over-year inventory decreased by 10.53 percent. Asking values for these helicopters dropped 9.33 percent from July 2026 but recorded a 0.79 percent increase compared to August 2025.

AirPro News analysis

We observe a consistent pattern of constrained supply across all tracked pre-owned aviation sectors when comparing 2026 to 2025. The August 2026 data aligns closely with the July 2026 figures previously reported by Sandhills Global, where large jets posted a 39.6 percent year-over-year inventory decrease. The modest month-over-month inventory gains across jets, turboprops, and piston aircraft suggest the rate of inventory depletion may be stabilizing. The corresponding softening in asking prices across most categories indicates that buyers are not currently willing to pay a premium despite the lower year-over-year supply.

Sources: Sandhills Global via PR Newswire

BermudAir will become the first operator of the Embraer E190F freighter in the Americas following a lease agreement with aircraft lessor Regional One announced on September 16, 2026. The transaction expands the Bermuda-based carrier’s operations into dedicated cargo services across North-America and the Caribbean.

According to a press release issued by Embraer, BermudAir will lease a single converted E190F, making it the second global operator of the manufacturer’s passenger-to-freighter (P2F) platform. The addition builds on the airline’s existing passenger network, which currently connects 10 destinations using a fleet of Embraer E175 and Embraer E190 regional jets.

Expanding into dedicated cargo-aircraft operations

The leased E190F will serve routes spanning Bermuda, the Caribbean, the United States, and Canada. BermudAir currently operates two E175s and two E190s for its scheduled passenger services, providing a common type rating and maintenance foundation for the incoming freighter.

“Cargo is a natural next step for us. We’ve built a reliable, right-sized operation connecting Bermuda and the Caribbean to North America, and the E190F lets us put that same network to work moving express cargo, supporting local businesses, e-commerce and time-sensitive freight across the islands we serve,” said Adam Scott, Founder and CEO of BermudAir.

The cargo expansion runs parallel to BermudAir’s broader fleet modernization strategy. In July 2026, the carrier announced a firm order for 10 Airbus A220-300 passenger aircraft to support its network growth, with deliveries scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2027, according to reporting by ch-aviation.

Embraer’s E-Freighter program gains momentum

The lease agreement highlights the ongoing rollout of Embraer’s P2F conversion program. Regional One has placed five firm orders for the E190F since the launch of the E-Freighter program. Two of those converted aircraft have already been delivered to the lessor and are in active service.

“As an innovative and rapidly growing airline, BermudAir is an excellent partner to help showcase the versatility and value of the E-Freighter platform. This milestone represents another important step in the continued growth of the E190 P2F program,” said George Mamangakis, Chief Investment Officer at Regional One.

Global rollout of the E190F

The E190F entered commercial service on March 9, 2026, when launch customer Bridges Air Cargo deployed the first converted aircraft on routes in Europe. The program subsequently secured additional backlog at the Farnborough International Airshow on July 21, 2026, when aircraft lessor Azorra signed an agreement for up to 30 E-Freighters, comprising 20 firm orders and 10 purchase rights, as reported by Aviation Week.

AirPro News analysis

We view BermudAir’s adoption of the E190F as a logical utilization of the carrier’s existing Embraer maintenance and crew training infrastructure. Operating a mixed fleet of passenger and freighter variants of the same aircraft family allows regional carriers to diversify revenue streams without proportionally increasing overhead costs. The placement of the first E-Freighter in the Americas provides Embraer with a highly visible regional showcase for its P2F conversion program in a market traditionally dominated by larger narrowbody freighters or smaller turboprops.

Sources: Embraer