Russian airlines could keep operating leased Western aircraft until late 2028

Russian airlines could keep operating leased Western aircraft until late 2028

The Transport Ministry has drafted a resolution extending Resolution 412, in force since March 2022. Around 200 aircraft from foreign lessors remain unresolved with their owners.

Russian airlines will be able to keep operating until December 31, 2028 the aircraft and engines they leased from foreign lessors before February 24, 2022. The special regime that allows it was due to expire at the end of this year. The Transport Ministry has drafted a resolution to extend it by two years, as reported by Russian newspaper Vedomosti.

The rule is Resolution 412, approved on March 19, 2022. It gives airlines the right to hold on to aircraft whose contracts were terminated and to pay lessors under the special rules of Presidential Decree 95. It also allows them to take out insurance with local companies and to carry out maintenance to Russian standards, without approvals or original parts from Western manufacturers. Taking these aircraft out of the country requires authorisation from the government commission that oversees foreign investment.

The original text was due to expire at the end of 2024 and was later extend...