How Russian airlines want to secure operations

Frankfurt It is news that is irritating at first glance. While Western countries have imposed tough sanctions on the Russian aviation industry, Aeroflot is buying eight Airbus A330-300 leasing companies. But what looks like a circumvention of sanctions is not. The Russian airline has used a deliberately created gap in the EU requirements.

In April, the EU Commission opened up its own conditions. A so-called buy-out clause now allows Russian airlines to buy the aircraft from the leasing companies, provided they have paid all the leasing rates beforehand. The EU wants to alleviate the pain of Western leasing companies with this gap.

The Russian government prohibits the domestic industry from returning rented aircraft. Around 500 aircraft are arrested in Russia, the financial damage is estimated at 13 billion dollars.