Russia is trying to circumvent airline sanctions. What will happen to 515 leased planes for over 10 billion?

Air sanctions against Russia made the state look for a solution and a way out of the problematic situation. To this end, it is trying to circumvent the sanctions by a new law that allows airlines to obtain airworthiness certificates and continue flights, which places Russian airlines against the strictest choice.

How will Russia try to circumvent airline sanctions, and why does much depend on the airlines themselves?

Currently, Russian airlines have 515 aircraft leased with a total value of over $ 10 billion. Following the blockades and sanctions, all these aircraft are to be returned to lessors under the new law, which is expected to take place by March 28, but Russia is trying at all costs to prevent this takeover, which is manifested in the said law, which is to circumvent the need to obtain a certificate of airworthiness in other countries (Ireland or Bermuda). Most of them have already been suspended, which just so happens to be necessary under international aviation regulations.

Therefore, work has been underway for a week on a new law signed by Putin, which allows Russian airlines to register leased aircraft in Russia and obtain airworthiness certificates on the spot. This is to keep the planes operational and out of the reach of lessors who can ground them, bringing Russian commercial aviation to a halt. There is, however, a small snag in this.

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Russian airlines are not subject to the state, but to private companies, for which leasing is often a lifeline, and therefore will avoid straining relations with lessors due to geopolitical issues. They also cannot simply re-register the plane, because the law prohibits it without deregistering from the previous system, which in addition requires the consent of the owner, i.e. the lessor. If Russian airlines take the risk, they will not be able to repair the planes anyway due to the lack of spare parts and support from Boeing and Airbus, so now we are just waiting for new information.