Ilya Vedmedenko19:25, 22.06.26

The situation with aviation gasoline is particularly acute.

The Russian Association of An-2 Aircraft Operators proposes introducing state regulation of aviation kerosene and aviation gasoline prices to combat rising prices due to the predicted fuel shortage, Kommersant reports .

Other market participants claim that their existing gasoline reserves will last for about another month of aviation operations. Light aircraft have already begun testing flights using “low-grade” motor gasoline.

The An-2 Operators Association plans to submit a proposal to the Russian Ministry of Transport by the end of June to introduce state regulation of prices for aviation kerosene and aviation gasoline.

The Association noted that both small and large aviation industries are facing similar challenges: rising service costs and declining demand. For passenger airlines, fuel costs already exceed a third of total expenses, and for small aviation, this share is even higher. This is deteriorating the economics of transportation, reducing demand for aviation services, and negatively impacting passenger traffic.

The situation with aviation gasoline is particularly acute: due to rising prices, market participants are forced to use motor gasoline, which is “not always of good quality.” According to experts, the rise in aviation gasoline prices is comparable to the increase in aviation kerosene. They note that fuel availability has always been challenging, but is currently deteriorating.

Today, Russian light aircraft are forced to either transport gasoline themselves in special tanks or rely on private flying clubs. Operators have already contacted engine manufacturers to request the use of Euro-3-compliant gasoline.

Some operators with Rotax-912 engines are switching to the Chinese equivalent of C100 and have already begun flight tests of this fuel to check the engines’ performance in real conditions.

Experts note that using low-octane gasoline can lead to engine detonation, reduced traction, and contamination of exhaust systems, making fuel quality control critical. At the same time, according to the Russians, the current tests are “successful, with no negative impacts yet recorded.”

The Russian Association of Small Aviation Enterprises notes that potential government price regulation could only exacerbate the imbalance between supply and demand. Experts say that under free pricing, companies retain the ability to plan their operations and factor fuel costs into service prices, whereas with administrative intervention, “the price may be mandated to be low, but there will be no fuel.”

At the same time, representatives of two carriers told Kommersant that, since the beginning of June, in a number of Russian regions, refuelling companies have stopped tanking aircraft—that is, refueling them in excess of the required flight requirements (taking into account possible route changes and weather conditions).

The publication’s sources in several other companies were concerned about how compensation payments would be made following the introduction of restrictions on the export of aviation kerosene in June.

As a reminder, from June 1 to November 30, Russia imposed restrictions on the export of aviation kerosene in an effort to stabilize the domestic market. The average export price of this alternative to aviation kerosene in northwestern Russian ports doubled year-on-year in March, amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East, reaching 147,450 rubles (US$1990–2010) per ton by February. In April, the price adjusted to 140,890 rubles (US$1910) per ton, and in May, it fell to 115,030 rubles (US$1558) per ton.

Fuel crisis in Russia – latest news

Russia is gripped by a massive fuel crisis . Fuel supply disruptions continue across the country: long lines are forming at local gas stations, and some have suspended gasoline sales altogether.

The fuel crisis is caused by a combination of military, logistical, and economic factors. These include Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries, export restrictions, and logistical disruptions, as well as seasonal demand and the Russian government’s overall economic policy.

It was previously reported that Russia has already lost a third of its oil refinery capacity . Experts estimate that the fuel shortage could become a key factor in accelerating inflation in Russia in the second half of the year and create additional risks for the entire Russian economy.

(C)UNIAN 2026