Russia hands airlines another ₽2.5bn in subsidies

US warns Türkiye over servicing Russian, Belarus carriers

Turkish airport ground handler Havaş has warned Russian and Belarusian airlines that it may no longer be able to serve around 180 Boeing and other aircraft due to United States sanctions, Russia’s RBK TV channel reported.

The ban would include refuelling, maintenance, and repair of any aircraft in which more than 25% of American parts and technologies have been used - a general de-minimis rule for what constitutes a US product.

The development follows the emergence of reports last week that Washington was leaning on Türkiye to stop Russian carriers from operating flights there with Boeing jets, as it tries to more comprehensively enforce sanctions imposed on Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine last February.

TAV Airports-owned Havaş, Türkiye’s largest ground handler, dispatched a letter to Russia dated January 31 saying: “We are running a due-diligence process to identify the risks and consequences to our business and stakeholders. As a result of this, we may find ourselves unable to serve some or all of your flights.”

The letter, which circulated on social media channels...

Lessor sues for $29mn over jet with Russia’s Yamal Airlines

Irish lessor Zephyrus Aviation Capital Partners 1D has sued a Lloyd’s of London-led syndicate of insurance companies, and another insurer, for USD28.7 million at the High Court of Justice of England and Wales, in a bid to cover the loss of a stranded Airbus aircraft leased to Yamal Airlines (YC, Salekhard), Law360 reported on January 4 citing court papers.

The move is the latest in a growing series of lawsuits in which lessors are launching legal action against dozens of insurance companies to try to reclaim billions of dollars in losses of aircraft in Russia since Moscow began its war in Ukraine. Hundreds of mostly Airbus and Boeing aircraft remain stuck in Russia since Western sanctions prompted Russian President Vladimir Putin to sign a law allowing local carriers to move them to the Russian register.

According to the ch-aviation fleets ownership module, Dublin International-based Zephyrus Aviation Capital has leased one aircraft in its overall portfolio of 24 aircraft to Yamal Airlines, A320-200 RA-73812 (msn 2419), leased under its...

Lessor sues insurance firms over Russia-related losses

US designates Ural Airlines for denial of export privileges

The United States Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a Temporary Denial Order (TDO) covering all of Ural Airlines' export privileges in relation to its apparent violation of US sanctions.

The US administration alleges that the Russian airline operated aircraft covered by US export regulations without the appropriate authorisation on multiple international flights, including to Bishkek, Dushanbe, Khudzhand, and Tamchy.

The TDO has been issued for 180 days but can be extended. Entities sanctioned with a TDO are not allowed to participate in any transactions covering goods or services subject to US export regulations, even if the transaction itself does not include any US-based entities.

The BIS's most recent list of aircraft identified as being operated by Russian airlines in violation of sanctions includes three Ural A320-200s and five of its A321-200s. The ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows the carrier operates four A319-100s, twenty-three A320-200s, three A320-200Ns, fifteen A321-200s, and eight A321-200NX, all of which are leased and have been re-registered...