Procedure for operation of foreign aircraft in Russia amid sanctions extended through 2024

MOSCOW. Dec 30 (Interfax) - The procedure for operating foreign aircraft in Russia under Western sanctions, approved by the government for 2022, has been extended through 2023 and 2024.

The relevant decrees signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin were published on the government website.

"The adopted decision will allow Russian airlines to continue to maintain a fleet of aircraft, which in turn will help to ensure a sufficient volume of passenger air transportation," an explanatory note to the documents reads.

The government approved resolutions on the current procedure for operating aircraft leased from foreign companies in March, after Western countries banned the supply of civil airliners and spare parts to Russia, as well as their maintenance and insurance. One decree allowed airlines to register ownership of aircraft and enter them into the state register under a simplified procedure.

The second decree approved the specifics of the execution of aircraft leading contracts concluded before February 24, 2022. Settlements between the lessor and the lessee are made "in accordance with the terms of the contract in accordance with the procedure established by Russian legislation providing special economic measures in the field of foreign economic activity," the document said. In this case insurance, reinsurance and maintenance of the aircraft is carried out in Russia.

According to the decree, export of aircraft outside Russia is possible in accordance with Presidential Decree № 100 from March 8, 2022 "On the use of special economic measures in the field of foreign economic activity in order to ensure the security of Russia."

A total of 1,285 aircraft are operated in Russia, Transport Minister Vitaly Savelyev said in May - the Russian registry includes 1,182 aircraft, of which 1,127 are passenger aircraft, he said.