Today, Russia remains a key location in Airbus' expanding global footprint. It also is a market of interest for the company, as current trends indicate the demand for new aircraft will increase in the region over the next two decades. Today, in the CIS region, 13 airlines operate over 160 Airbus aircraft while more than 100 are scheduled for delivery in the near future.

Moscow-based Aeroflot was the first Airbus customer and operator in Russia, with its A310s entering service in 1992. It also was the first airline in the CIS to operate the A319 and A321. Today, the Russian flag carrier operates over 60 Airbus aircraft, and has more than 30 on order.

In June 2007, Aeroflot placed a firm order for 22 Airbus A350 XWB aircraft, confirming its initial commitment signed in March of that year. In addition, the carrier signed a contract for the purchase of five additional A321s in July 2008 and ordered six more A321s in December 2008 to add to its growing medium-haul fleet.

Russia’s largest domestic carrier, S7 Airlines, announced the purchase of 25 A320s in June 2007. This airline currently operates more than 30 Airbus aircraft. Russian carriers GTK Rossiya, Ural Airlines, Vladivostok Avia, Avianova, and Kolavia are successfully operating the A320 Family on their domestic and international networks. In addition, six airlines from other CIS countries – including Armenia’s Armavia, Air Moldova, Azerbaijan’s National Air Company, Ukraine’s Donbassaero, Uzbekistan Airways, and Kazakhstan’s Air Astana – currently operate over 25 Airbus aircraft, mainly from the A320 Family.

Airbus has a regional office in Moscow to cover marketing and public relations, as well as to facilitate and develop current and future cooperation with the Russian aviation industry. Russia's capital city also is home to a Customer Services office providing on-the-spot airline support. In addition, Airbus has trained hundreds of pilots and technicians from Russian Federation airlines and has modernised Aeroflot's training centre – helping to install computerised equipment and simulators.

In July 2001, Airbus’ parent company EADS and the Russian Aerospace Agency Rosaviakosmos signed an agreement which placed European-Russian cooperation on new foundations. This programme will generate a turnover of more than $800 million over 10 years for Russia, and covers numerous research and technology projects, design work, material procurement, product manufacturing and component delivery, as well as extensive cooperation in the certification field.

Airbus and the Kaskol Group jointly created an Airbus engineering centre in Russia in 2002, which started with 30 engineers and has since emerged as a model of success for Airbus’ globalisation strategy. It was the first Airbus engineering facility to open in Europe outside the company's home countries.

Equipped with state-of-the-art communication equipment and linked with Airbus engineering sites in France and Germany, the centre performs extensive work in disciplines such as fuselage structure, stress, systems installation and design.

This Moscow facility employs 190 engineers and 20 administrative staff on several work packages across Airbus product lines‚ including its single-aisle‚ long-range and A380 programmes. The engineering centre began work in 2009 on the A350 XWB's rear fuselage, and also has delivered specific designs for several sections of the A330-200F freighter.

In 2004 and 2005, Airbus placed two large work packages with Russian manufacturers – the first one for the A320 Family with IRKUT Scientific Production Corporation, and the second one for aircraft of the A320 and A380 Families with IRKUT and Voronezh Aircraft Production Association. Each package will generate total revenue of some $400 million over ten years for the Russian manufacturers.

In addition, the purchase of materials was one of Airbus’ earliest activities with Russian industry. Over the last few years, this has evolved from raw materials to include semi-finished products, including those with higher added value. The Russian Technologies State Corporation's integrated structure VSMPO-AVISMA Corporation has become a major titanium supplier to Airbus. In 2009, Airbus/EADS signed the biggest and longest-term contract in the history of its cooperation with Russian industry. The new agreement covers the supply of Titanium to Airbus and other EADS Divisions until 2020.The scope of the contract includes the supply of Titanium and covers die forging parts for all existing Airbus aircraft, including new programmes such as the A350XWB.

Airbus continues to actively explore opportunities with the Russian aviation industry, and numerous research and technology projects are currently underway with the participation of Russian engineers and specialists.