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Air travel lessor settlements with Russia over trapped airplanes

Airplane leasing companies have struck settlements with Russia totalling around $2.7 billion for over a quarter of the roughly 400 airplane stuck in the nation given that Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

In return, global lessors handed ownership of the planes to state insurance company NSK, which transferred them to Russian airline companies.

Lessors have been taking legal action against lots of insurance providers over losses of at least $8 billion over the trapped planes.

Some of the world's biggest aircraft lessors took on against their insurers in a Dublin courtroom recently at the start of a months-long fight over around 2.5 billion euros ($ 2.7 billion) of insurance coverage claims related to the jets.

A comparable case is scheduled for London in October. Some cases are likewise due to be heard in U.S. states.

Below are details of settlements reached between lessors and Russia.

AERCAP

Ireland-based AerCap, the world's largest lessor, stated in September 2023 it had actually received $645 million from NSK in a settlement over 17 jets and 5 extra engines rented to state-controlled airline Aeroflot and its subsidiary Rossiya.

In December 2023, the lessor reached a 2nd settlement worth $572 million over 47 airplane and 5 extra engines leased to JSC Ural Airlines and JSC Siberia Airlines (S7).

AerCap has actually taken legal action against insurance companies such as AIG and Lloyd's of London for $3.5 billion over the loss of 116 aircraft and 23 aircraft engines in London's High Court under its all-risks policy.

AIRCASTLE ADVISOR

Aircastle said in January 2024 it had actually received $43 million in a settlement connecting to 4 aircraft previously on lease to 2 Russian airline companies.

Aircastle sued in New York against more than 30 insurance providers in October 2022 over nine aircraft and other equipment stranded in Russia.

Aircastle said in 2022 it had actually reserved $252 million in disability losses for the jets.

AIR LEASE

Air Lease stated in December 2023 it had actually gotten about $ 64.9 million in cash as part of an insurance claim settlement for 4 Airbus jets it had actually leased to S7 Airlines. The settlement does not consist of five other aircraft formerly leased to S7.

BOC AVIATION

BOC Air travel received $219 million in October 2023 for 9 airplane leased to Aeroflot subsidiaries Pobeda and Rossiya and $50 million in December 2023 for three airplane leased to S7, out of a total of five airplane rented to S7, according to court documents presented at the Dublin trial, where BOC is taking legal action against insurers.

Singapore-based BOC identified an $804 million asset write-down in August 2022 connecting to 17 airplane in Russia.

CDB AVIATION

Irish-based lessor CDB Aviation, owned by the China Development Bank, stated in October 2023 it had gone for 1.417 billion yuan ($ 195 million) over 4 aircrafts and in December 2023 said it had actually chosen 145 million yuan for one aircraft.

The very first settlement was for planes rented to Aeroflot and the 2nd for an aircraft leased to S7, according to Dublin court documents.

CDB Aviation acknowledged a 747 million yuan property write-down in August 2022 but stated this was not the full value of the jets.

DUBAI AEROSPACE

Dubai Aerospace Business (DAE) stated in December 2023 it had received a cash settlement amounting to around $118 million for seven airplane previously leased to Aeroflot.

It wrote off practically $600 million for 19 aircraft stuck in Russia in 2022. DAE and its subsidiary Falcon are taking legal action against 11 insurance providers for $900 million in London over 21 airplane and equipment.

GA TELESIS

GA Telesis said in December 2023 it had actually gotten an insurance settlement for two airplanes previously leased to Rossiya. It did not supply monetary details.

SMBC AVIATION CAPITAL

Irish-headquartered SMBC, owned by a consortium including Japan's Sumitomo Corp and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, stated in October 2023 it had actually gotten a. settlement of $710 million for 16 aircraft and their engines. previously leased to Aeroflot.

SMBC fund GAEL got $18 million in September 2023 for. one airplane rented to Aeroflot, according to Dublin court. documents. SMBC also got $46 million in December 2023 for. 3 aircraft rented to S7, out of a total of 10 airplane. rented to S7, according to the documents.

SMBC taped a disability of $1.6 billion in 2022 to cover. the complete monetary impact of having 34 jets stuck in Russia.

(source: Reuters)