newstodate.aero

Jan 12, 2023 (newstodate): By the end of February 2023, a one-time window will close for EU aircraft lessors to sell assets to Russian carriers.
   EU sanctions responding to the Russian invasion of Ukraine effectively closed down all money transfers between the two parties and left western lessors with valuable assets frozen in Russia in the form of aircraft on unpaid - and unpayable - lease contracts.
   The Russian president then announced a financial assistance program for Russian airlines to buy their leased aircraft, and in response EU opened a limited time window to permit lessors to accept funds from Russia related to any sales deal closed by the end of February 2023.
   This is applicable to all EU owners with aircraft “trapped” in Russia on financial and operating lease contracts.
   As one recent example, Aeroflot has announced that it has bought out and acquired ownership of 10 Boeing 777-300ER long-haul aircraft, which have been under financial lease from an Irish leasing company since 2013 and 2014, and in May 2022, Aeroflot also bought out eight Airbus A330 aircraft from foreign lessors.
   -The transactions have been made taking into account all the required permits from Russian and foreign regulators, Aeroflot assures.