Kommersant: Ministry of Transport offered airlines to buy planes at the expense of the National Welfare Fund

The Ministry of Transport offered Russian airlines to buy equipment from foreign lessors at the expense of funds from the National Welfare Fund (NWF). About it informs “Kommersant” with reference to the letter of the department.

According to the newspaper, the document was sent to 20 air carriers. In it, the ministry asks companies to estimate how many of the remaining aircraft they are willing to buy. In addition, carriers must justify the market value of equipment and the feasibility of buying aircraft over 20 years old.

It is assumed that airlines will be able to receive funds from the NWF at a rate of 1.5% over 15 years. In the Ministry of Transport, the group “AeroflotS7, UtairUral Airlines and other airlines declined to comment.

Three sources in airlines told RBCthat on September 13, at a meeting with Deputy Minister of Transport Igor Chalik, the issue of buying out aircraft was indeed discussed.

At the same time, Kommersant’s sources in the aviation industry are skeptical about the initiative. According to them, it is unlikely that they will be able to buy the aircraft, since in the fifth package of EU sanctions against Russia, European companies were allowed to execute only financial leasing contracts. In the case of aircraft, we are talking about operating leasing. According to sources, Russian air carriers have less than 50 aircraft out of 739 registered at the beginning of March 2022 in financing leasing.

Interlocutors of the newspaper in airlines also doubt the possibility of transactions. According to them, most of the aircraft, even non-European owners, are registered with European subsidiaries. At the same time, other countries do not want to violate EU sanctions.

After the start of the special operation in Ukraine, Western countries closed their airspace to Russian aircraft, and foreign leasing companies demanded that air carriers from Russia return the leased aircraft. At the same time, the authorities of Western countries banned the supply of parts for equipment to Russia.

At the end of March in the Ministry of Transport toldthat lessors demanded that Russian companies return 500 aircraft worth about $20 billion. According to him, the government will have to resolve the issue of buying them out.

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