MSGID: 2:292/854 1b141d3a   
   TZUTC: 0100                     
   Russian airlines have held talks with at least one Western leasing company to   
   buy stranded aircraft, Reuters news agency reported. More than 400 leased   
   aircraft have been stranded in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine and   
   subsequent sanctions. Russia refuses to return them.   
       
   There would be a proposal that would reduce the billion-dollar bill for   
   leasing companies and insurers and allow Russian airlines to formally take   
   ownership of aircraft at a potentially steep discount. This proposal still has   
   to receive approval from the EU, which is highly uncertain.   
       
   The talks between Russian airlines and the leasing company came to light   
   during an Irish lawsuit in which leasing companies are calling their insurers   
   to account. Many of the leased aircraft are registered in Ireland. By means of   
   a lawsuit, the lease companies want to be assured of payments by the insurers.   
       
   A letter from leasing company SMBC to the Irish Supreme Court on Sept. 15 says   
   it has spoken with Aeroflot and its insurer AlfaStrakhovanie. The latter   
   reportedly offered $644.2 million for 17 aircraft leased to Aeroflot, minus   
   $82 million already paid in deposits and reserves. According to SMBC, this is   
   considerably less than the original value of the airplanes.   
       
   Also other airlines. such as S7 Airlines and NordStar, and several Russian   
   insurance companies have been reaching out to leasing companies in recent   
   months. But they have not yet concluded any agreements. That is only possible   
   if the EU moves.   
      
   --- DB4 - 20220519   
    * Origin: AVIATION ECHO HQ (2:292/854)   
   SEEN-BY: 1/123 15/0 80/1 90/1 105/81 106/201 120/340 123/131 129/305   
   SEEN-BY: 153/7715 221/1 226/30 229/110 111 112 113 114 307 317 400   
   SEEN-BY: 229/424 426 428 470 664 700 280/464 282/1038 292/854 8125   
   SEEN-BY: 301/1 317/3 320/219 322/757 335/364 342/200 396/45 460/58   
   SEEN-BY: 633/280 712/848   
   PATH: 292/854 229/426