Russia will spend 300 billion rubles to purchase back the planes from foreign lessors

The Russian government has allocated about 300 billion rubles for the purchase of aircraft from foreign lessors, said Transport Minister Savyolov. "Aeroflot" has already purchased 10 long-haul aircraft, he noted.

In May 2022, "Aeroflot" purchased eight Airbus A330 aircraft from foreign lessors and transferred them to the Russian registry. In December 2022, "Aeroflot" bought ten Boeing 777-300ERS from an Irish leasing company to preserve the current fleet of foreign-made aircraft in its operation. All 18 repurchased aircraft were operating based on financial leasing contracts. Upon their expiration, they are transferred to the lessee's ownership at the residual value. The remaining air vehicles in the group's park are used under operating leasing agreements, which provide for the return of the aircraft to the lessor after the end of the lease term. The purchase of aircraft is hampered by the Western sanctions regime. After the start of hostilities in Ukraine, the US and EU stopped supplying civilian aircraft and components to Russia and obliged their lessors to return already rented planes to Russian operators.