Sanctions Hobble the Airline Built by ‘Russia’s Elon Musk’

Less than two months ago, S7 Airlines was heralded as a Russian success story. Operating a modern fleet of Airbus SE and Boeing Co. planes, the carrier connected the country to western Europe, Central Asia, and even Thailand. A member of the Oneworld global aviation alliance that also includes British Airways and American Airlines, S7 boasted a solid safety record, paid its bills on time, and had a charismatic leader in Vladislav Filev—an amateur pilot who created the nation’s largest private carrier—to represent its growth ambitions.

But following Russia’s attack on Ukraine on Feb. 24, Filev and the airline he built are left stuck between international sanctions that have prompted leasing firms to reclaim their aircraft and a Russian government determined to keep its aviation industry aloft. The airline, which once boasted service to 35 nations, is cut off from both its overseas destinations and the flow of aircraft maintenance essentials that are key to keeping a modern airline running, from cockpit software upgrades to spare parts.