Air Hamburg’s Legacy 650 Reregistered in Armenia After Stranding

A Legacy 650 business jet previously operated by Air Hamburg has been reregistered in Armenia after being stranded in Krasnodar, Russia, following the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The 5.9-year-old Embraer jet, formerly registered as D-AIRV (msn 14501236), last flew on February 20, 2022, from Dubai World Central to Krasnodar. On December 4, 2024, it was reregistered in Armenia as EK-SIM under Sim Avia, a company that does not hold an Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC). The aircraft remains grounded under its new registration.

ADS-B data shows the Legacy 650 is now certified for private operations, with its Armenian registration valid until August 1, 2025. It joins Sim Avia’s fleet, which includes a Piper PA-28 and a Piper PA-46, both previously registered in Russia.

Sim Avia is owned by Simon Mnoyan, who founded the Russian aviation firm Simavia in Krasnodar. Until November 2023, Mnoyan served as the company’s director before Ivan Fateev took over. Simavia was previously Piper Aircraft’s dealer in Russia.

Air Hamburg’s second stranded aircraft, a Citation XLS+ (D-CKJM, msn 560-6277), remains in Krasnodar. The 5.3-year-old jet last flew on February 23, 2022, from Nuremberg to Krasnodar.

Neither Sim Avia nor Mnoyan has commented on the aircraft transfer. The situation highlights ongoing challenges in repositioning jets impacted by aviation sanctions on Russia.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com