Boeing has suspended all parts deliveries and support for its airplanes in Russia as the U.S. followed the European Union in banning all flights from Russia from its airspace starting Wednesday. On Monday a Boeing spokesperson told AIN it had closed its operations center in Kyiv and paused operations at its Moscow training center, and that it would adhere to all global laws and regulations.
In an updated statement on Wednesday, Boeing added it has suspended “major” operations in Moscow. “We are also suspending parts, maintenance, and technical support services for Russian airlines,” it said. “As the conflict continues, our teams are focused on ensuring the safety of our teammates in the region.”
In a separate statement to AIN, Airbus on Monday said it continued to monitor the situation closely but called any comment in detail about the effect of sanctions on the industry “premature.”
While Russian carriers operate more than 700 Western-built aircraft, Airbus said its backlog exposure stands at 14 A350s to Aeroflot and about 40 A220- and A320-family narrowbodies due for delivery through lessors.
Although Western countries have not yet prohibited imports of titanium from Russia, OEMs must brace for the possible interruption of Russian export of the vital material. Sources close to Boeing, which imports roughly a third of its titanium from Russia, told AIN that the company would not feel any immediate effect from any interruption of delivery of the metal because it had stockpiled a surplus during the pause in deliveries of Boeing 787s and a period of low output of Boeing 737 Max narrowbodies and 777 widebodies.
Airbus, which gets about two-thirds of its titanium from Russia, told AIN that it is “protected in the short/medium term” because it considers geopolitical risks in its titanium sourcing policies.