Russian airlines’ current aircraft fleet may be employed for another ten years, Transport Minister Vitaly Savelyev said at a meeting of the State Duma (lower house) Committee on Transport and Development of Transport Infrastructure on Wednesday.

"The average age of the domestic and imported aircraft fleet available is 15 years, which means air worthiness will be ensured for another ten years," he said.

Earlier on Wednesday, the minister said some 1,297 jets are currently employed in Russia, of which 1,167 are passenger aircraft.