WionDrive News Desk 
Russia has successfully completed the acquisition of 92 planes from foreign leasing companies, according to an announcement by airlines and aircraft leasing company AerCap.
Funded by Russia’s National Welfare Fund, a sum of 190 billion roubles (USD 2.06 billion) was allocated for this purpose. The ownership of these aircraft will now be transferred to Russia’s state insurance company NLK-Finance, which, in turn, will facilitate the transfer of the planes to various Russian airlines.
Airline S7 has reported that 45 of its planes, which were previously foreign-owned, have been part of this buyout. Similarly, Aeroflot, the national flag carrier, has confirmed the completion of deals for 28 of its aircraft, while Ural Airlines secured buyouts for 19 planes.
This series of acquisitions follows the re-registration of foreign aircraft in Russia’s fleet without the owners’ consent, initiated after Western countries imposed sanctions on Russian airlines in response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Subsequently, negotiations were undertaken to finalise the buyout of these aircraft.
One notable advantage for Russian airlines arising from these acquisitions is the ability to deploy these planes on overseas routes without the risk of them being seized, providing a strategic advantage in international aviation services.
The transactions signify a deliberate effort by Russia to enhance its aviation capabilities and navigate around the challenges posed by sanctions. As the process of transferring ownership to Russian entities progresses, it remains to be seen how these acquisitions will shape the country’s aviation landscape in the context of ongoing geopolitical developments.
