Russia has sent a proposal to the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), a trade and customs union spanning Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, seeking to establish duty-free imports for certain types of civil cargo aircraft until the end of 2025, the news agency Interfax reported.

In particular, the exemption is expected to be introduced for two categories of freighters - those with an empty curb weight (the weight of the aircraft including a full tank of fuel and all standard equipment) of 20 to 90 tons, and widebodies with an empty curb weight in excess of 120 tons.

At the moment, the rates for these range from 7.5% to 12.5%. It is assumed that the preferential regime will be valid until the beginning of 2026.

“The proposal of the Russian Federation is aimed at supporting national airlines engaged in air cargo transportation, and it is prompted by the need to minimise their financial costs in the face of sanctions restrictions,” the document posted on the EEC website explained.

The proposal is to make an amendment to the Decision of the Commission of the Customs Union No. 130, dated November 27, 2009, titled On the Unified Customs and Tariff Regulation of the Eurasian Economic Union, on the exemption of certain types of civil cargo aircraft from the payment of import customs duties. The exemption “is not associated with restrictions on the use and/or disposal of goods,” the document said.

Precisely what kinds of cargo aircraft could be imported into the country as a result of the duty-free imports is not clear, as Russia is cut off from Airbus, Boeing, and lessors by Western sanctions imposed because of Russia’s war in Ukraine. The sanctions include a ban on deliveries of civil aircraft and spare parts to Russia as well as their maintenance and insurance.

The draft of the EEC decision is now open to comments from the public until December 19, and it will enter into force after ten calendar days from the date of its official publication.

The ch-aviation fleets module lists 11 cargo airlines in Russia that are active or restarting: Abakan Air, Aerologic (Russian Federation), AirBridgeCargo, Atran, E-Cargo Airlines, Gelix Airlines, Nimbus Airlines, Sky Gates Airlines, Sky Test, Volga-Dnepr Airlines, and start-up Gostavia.