Western companies demand that Russia return 500 aircraft to them

Russian Transport Minister Vitaly Savelyev says the Russian government is considering buying back the planes, but they will cost Russia $20 billion.

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Western companies that leased aircraft to Russian airlines demanded that Russia return more than 500 aircraft to them. Buying the planes will cost the country $20 billion. About it declared Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation Vitaly Savelyev, reports the Russian edition of Interfax.

The Russian official called it a political decision. According to him, if these 500 aircraft are given away, they will not be able to be resold and remarketed. Savelyev added that now the Russian government is thinking about buying foreign aircraft, but they will cost the country $20 billion. In total, Russia now has about 1.3 thousand aircraft.

“Requests have already been received for more than 500 foreign-made aircraft. We are now deciding with the government (whether to buy back – Ed.), I’ll just tell you the amount of the buyback – this is $ 20 billion at a residual value, if we buy back what we underpaid. This is very big amount,” he said.

Recall, on March 14, Reuters reported that Vladimir Putin allowed Russian airlines use foreign leased aircraft. He signed a law that allows the use of foreign aircraft without a certificate.

Earlier, February 26 The European Union has imposed sanctions that prohibit the supply to Russia aircraft and parts, as well as their maintenance and insurance. The ban applies to new and existing leasing contracts with a transitional period until March 28.

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