Russian airlines have not switched to the practice of so-called cannibalization of aircraft (complete dismantling of aircraft for spare parts), Transport Minister Vitaly Savelyev said on Wednesday.

He was speaking at a meeting of the State Duma Committee on Transport.

"Today, out of 1,167 planes, not a single aircraft has been cannibalized. We do not do cannibalization. As we assumed - all aircraft are operating normally. Spare parts are provided. I want to emphasize that these spare parts are normal, certified, and not cobbled together," Savelyev said.

Earlier today, the Transport Minister said that there are only 1,297 aircraft being used in Russia now, with 1,167 of them being passenger jets.