Russia releases Ariana Afghan’s B737 after 100 days

An Ariana Afghan Airlines (FG, Kabul) B737-400, impounded for 100 days at Moscow Sheremetyevo, has returned to Kabul after it was released by Russian authorities on Saturday, June 5, 2021, the Afghan Civil Aviation Authority announced. As previously reported, YA-PIC (msn 26088) was seized in Moscow on February 23, 2021, after attempting to depart without first being cleared by Russia’s Federal Customs Service (FCS). On June 5, the CAA announced that “through persistent efforts, it contacted the Russian Air Transport Authority (Rosaviatsia), as well as through diplomatic sources, to obtain the plane’s acquittal in a Russian court.” The CAA also posted a photograph of the aircraft arriving in Kabul which was also confirmed by FlightRadar24 ADS-B data. Ariana’s Acting President and Chief Executive Officer Saleem Rahimi confirmed to ch-aviation the aircraft’s return and that it would soon resume flights to Islamabad Quaid-e-Azam Int’l, Pakistan. He also confirmed that the airline was taking legal advice on whether or not to sue the Russian government for compensation for USD1m to USD1.5 million losses sustained during the impoundment. Tolo News earlier reported the Russians had released the aircraft after all allegations against the airline were found baseless. Details of the allegations were not disclosed. The Afghanistan Aviation Support Association (AASA) said Ariana had lost more than 30% of its income in the past three months due to the impoundment of the aircraft. “Ariana has only three planes. When one of these planes stops operating, it means that over 30% of the company’s revenue has been cut in the past few months,” said Mahmoud Shah Habibi, director of the Afghanistan Aviation Support Association. According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, apart from YA-PIC, the airline also operates another B737-400, YA-PID (msn 26085), on routes from Kabul to Kandahar, Herat, and internationally to Dubai Int’l. Both B737s are leased from GECAS. The carrier also owns an A310-300, YA-CAV (msn 497), which it flies between Kabul and Delhi Int’l, India, and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, FlightRadar24 ADS-B data reveals.