While lessors will be sceptical about any return to Russia following the probability that many of their aircraft will be shifted to the Russian register without their consent, western Siberian carrier UTair (UT, Khanty-Mansiysk) is hoping to sidestep such a clash by withdrawing nine B737s from service citing owner requirements, a move that could preserve longer-term relations after sanctions end.
The airline has said in a statement on its website that it “operates flights in strict compliance with the applicable laws” and that having received a notice from the Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority on the suspension of certificates of airworthiness of Bermuda-registered aircraft, it had “immediately restricted flight operations of these aircraft.”
“We started transferring aircraft to the Russian register as early as last year,” said UTair president Oleg Semenov, “and as of today we have accomplished the transfer of the whole fleet, including long-range widebody Boeing B767s. The existing fleet of 50 Russian-registered aircraft is sufficient for uninterrupted support for our passengers and customers.”
The carrier added that “due to the requirements of owners and lessors, and pursuant to signed contracts and Russian and international laws, the company has withdrawn from operations all nine Boeing 737NG aircraft that were used under operating lease agreements.”
According to the ch-aviation fleets module, among UTair’s total fleet of 65 aircraft are nine B737-800s leased from non-Russian entities: five from Carlyle Aviation Partners and one each from Avolon, DAE Capital, FLY Leasing, and Park Aerospace Holdings.
