Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borissov announced on Russian public television on Thursday 31 March that the “vast majority” of aircraft leased from Western companies would remain in Russia, despite the breach of contract (see EUROPE 12920/6).
This statement comes as Russian airlines were due to return all the aircraft they lease from European companies by Monday 28 March, following the EU sanctions against Moscow (see EUROPE 12900/2). The Russian administration said that 78 of the more than 500 planes concerned had been ‘seized’ while they were abroad. More than 400 aircraft - mostly Airbus and Boeing planes owned by European and American companies - are still on Russian territory.
Eurocontrol’s Director General, Eamonn Brennan, estimated on 25 March that the total value of the aircraft involved was €10 billion.
Nine days earlier, the Russian government signed a law allowing airlines to re-register aircraft on Russian territory, thus allowing them to operate domestic flights in Russia. (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)