Russia Faces Seizure of 76 Commercial Aircraft Abroad Due to Sanctions Following Ukraine Invasion

Russia has encountered the seizure of 76 commercial aircraft abroad as a consequence of sanctions imposed following its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, as confirmed by the Russian Federation’s Transport Minister, Vitaly Savelyev.

In a conversation with Russian media, Savelyev, who previously served as CEO of the flag carrier Aeroflot from 2009 to 2020, acknowledged that his ministry was ill-prepared for this unprecedented situation. He also provided insights into the profound impact that sanctions have had on Russia’s commercial aviation industry.

The 76 aircraft mentioned by the minister were temporarily situated outside of Russia for various reasons, such as maintenance or commercial services, when the sanctions were enforced, resulting in their seizure wherever they were located.

In addition to the aircraft that remain stranded abroad, a substantial portion of Russia’s airline fleet has faced severe operational limitations, exacerbated by Boeing and Airbus discontinuing their services to Russian operators.

At the onset of the conflict, more than half of the airliners operated by Russian airlines were under lease agreements, with approximately two-thirds of Western-made aircraft registered in either Bermuda or Ireland. Russia declined to return these aircraft to their lessors, triggering ongoing legal disputes.

As of November 2023, Russian airlines can only conduct international flights to 11 countries that have offered safeguards against potential seizures.

Currently, the Russian commercial aircraft fleet comprises 1,302 aircraft, with 1,176 designated for passenger transportation. Since 2022, over 800 aircraft have been re-registered in Russia.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, aerotime.aero