Russian Airliners Face Steep Costs in Middle East Evacuation Effort

A major evacuation of Russian citizens from several Middle Eastern nations is creating a significant financial burden for the country's airlines. Industry sources estimate the total losses could approach one billion rubles. The operation, ordered by President Vladimir Putin and coordinated by the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Foreign Ministry, involves flying citizens home from countries including the UAE and Oman. Between March 2 and 6, carriers operated 139 flights, bringing nearly 29,000 people to cities across Russia. The financial strain comes from operating these as one-way missions, with aircraft returning empty. A source within a major airline explained that profitability on such routes plummets from an average of 3-4% to a loss of roughly 30%. For a standard 180-seat aircraft, a single flight can mean a loss of 1.5 to 3 million rubles, with larger wide-body jets incurring even higher costs. Compounding the problem are expenses from canceled scheduled flights and ticket refunds, which may total 400 million rubles. While analysts suggest the carriers' adaptability and the fact that peak travel season has not yet begun will prevent bankruptcy, the financial hit is substantial. Airlines are also facing increased operational costs due to the need to reroute flights around conflict zones.