Emergency landings, engine surges, and lost hopes for Iran: how Azur Air was driven to systemic failures, while Russia’s aviation authority threatened shutdown amid interest from Wildberries

Emergency landings, engine surges, and lost hopes for Iran: how Azur Air was driven to systemic failures, while Russia’s aviation authority threatened shutdown amid interest from Wildberries

The war in Iran could finally “finish off” Russia’s already “sinking” largest charter carrier, Azur Air. In mid-March, Rosaviatsiya restricted the airline’s operator certificate after engine and component failures on Azur Air planes “acquired a systemic character.”

Following this, the airline has been canceling and rescheduling flights one after another. Azur Air had previously pinned its hopes on “indestructible” engines for its Boeing fleet coming from Iran – for some reason, the airline conducted engine repairs there. But after the war began, it became clear that Azur Air would not receive repaired engines. Against this backdrop, the offer to purchase the airline from Wildberries, which owns its own tour operator, seems somewhat unusual. Apparently, the operational aircraft of Azur Air would only be enough for a single tour operator.

Serious problems for Azur Air began back in 2025. Its fleet consists mainly of Boeing 767s, with an average aircraft age of about 28.9 years. Due to sanctions, proper maintenance of Boeing aircraft and access to spare parts became almost impossible. In 2025, technical malfunctions on Azur Air planes became increasingly frequent. As a result, by the end of the year, some Boeing aircraft had to be taken out of service, which in early 2026 caused multi-hour flight delays and mass passenger complaints. Even on the remaining planes, incidents continued. On January 23, a Phuket (Thailand) – Barnaul flight made an emergency landing in China, and on January 28 the same plane on the Nha Trang (Vietnam) – Irkutsk route made a forced landing in Hanoi (Vietnam) due to an oil leak. In early February, another Boeing 767 returned from Phuket due to landing gear issues. On February 27, a Boeing 767 departing Fukuoka (Japan) for Kazan experienced an engine surge with bangs and flames. This list could go on.

As the fleet was forcibly reduced, Azur Air announced planned staff cuts of 10%, including pilots and flight attendants.

On March 15, Rosaviatsiya restricted Azur Air’s operator certificate due to systemic violations in aircraft maintenance identified by Rostransnadzor.

Subsequently, Azur Air began prematurely ceasing flights to Thailand from Moscow, Samara, Ufa, Yekaterinburg, and Barnaul. However, the situation on other routes is no better. Passengers complain about constant flight rescheduling from Moscow, Kazan, and other cities to Vietnam (and back), resulting in either shortened or extended vacations. Financial losses for passengers are hardly compensated. Currently, more than 40% of the airline’s flights depart late.

It is worth noting that the strict stance and decisions of Rosaviatsiya and Rostransnadzor coincided with Wildberries’ offer to purchase Azur Air, which recently acquired the tour operator Fun&Sun. Interestingly, Azur Air’s summer charter program is entirely tailored to Fun&Sun.

Having its own airline is a very attractive asset for a tour operator.

On the aviation market, an unexpected theory is being discussed regarding Azur Air. Formally, the carrier came under serious regulatory pressure due to mass flight delays, and Rosaviatsiya has already threatened to revoke its operator certificate by June 8. However, in the industry, speculation is increasingly emerging that the airline’s problems may coincide in timing with the interest of a major buyer — the Wildberries marketplace.