Air TransportRussia’s Tu-214 approved for serial production
Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) approved the upgraded variant of the Tupolev Tu-214 narrowbody. The decision followed a positive assessment by the Russian Aviation Register, with the official certification document delivered to Zufar Mirgalimov, First Deputy General Director at JSC Tupolev, by Dmitry Yadrov, head of the agency.
The approval enables Tupolev to begin serial production of the Tu-214, with annual output expected to reach up to 20 aircraft by the end of 2027.
Andrei Nikitin, Russia’s Minister of Transport, stated, “The approval of the Tu-214, which substitutes imports, opens the way for serial production of the aircraft for delivery to national airlines.”
Tupolev’s redesign centers on a new avionics suite developed for the Tu-214. Certification required a multi-phase testing program. The flight-test prototype conducted its maiden flight in November 2024, with additional certification testing completed in February 2025.
The Tu-214 is a medium-range, single-aisle jet with capacity for up to 210 passengers. It is powered by PS-90A engines, designed and produced domestically by United Engine Corporation.
The Tu-214 recovery program is a short-term alternative to meet Russian airlines’ demand for single-aisle commercial aircraft while the more advanced MC-21-310 model does not enter full-scale production.
Despite the update, the aircraft is considered obsolete by Western standards, with high operating costs.
About the Author
Ricardo Meier
Creator of the website that started in 1996 as a magazine. He also writes on Brazilian websites AUTOO, MOTOO and MetrôCPTM.
