ChasenSFO
hen teaser
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law allowing Russian airlines to keep foreign aircraft for use on domestic flights, according to state news agency TASS.
Moscow had signaled last week it could take such action in response to far-reaching Western sanctions.
The new law, TASS said, would allow Russian airlines to retain and operate planes rented from foreign aircraft lessors that have pulled out of the market and canceled contracts because of the sanctions.
Putin Signs Law to Seize Foreign Aircraft, Redeploy for Domestic Use
I've read that 43 US\European-made Russian\Belarusian aircraft are currently impounded outside of Russia, so that leaves...many hundreds of them that are now proudly owned by the carriers who leased them. Also read that Lufthansa Technik services over 300 Russian airliners and has tons of spare parts in Russian facilities, and those have all been effectively stolen as well. Apparently, 90% of air travel in Russia is domestic anyway, so the demand for the jets will be there still, but I wonder how long they can keep them flying and airworthy in a safe and acceptable manner before they start scrapping rather new 777s, A350s, etc to keep planes flying.
I also wonder how lessors will react to this news. When this all "blows over", will they go after the airlines, will they ever lease to them again? A "first time" in aviation...