UTair (UT, Khanty-Mansiysk) and Transaero Airlines (Moscow Vnukovo) have approached the Russian government for financial assistance the Kommersant daily has reported. Executives from both airlines are said to have approached the Kremlin recently claiming the onset of Western sanctions and their consequent negative impact on demand for international flights had triggered heavy losses.

"Airlines have asked about extra means of support from the budget," Russian Transport Minister Maksim Sokolov said. "There was a question about subsidies for borrowing rates. This is an obvious way of giving support. We used it often during the crisis period of 2008-2009."

Both UTair and Transaero's financial situations have been further exacerbated by Kiev's decision to ban Russian airlines from transiting its airspace. The resultant need to circumvent Ukrainian airspace had forced both carriers to incur significant losses.