The Russian aviation regulator, Rosaviation, has prohibited flights to Egypt for 27 aircraft owned by the State Transport Leasing Company (GTLK) due to the risk of their arrest.
Rosaviation sent a telegram last week to the Aeroflot and Rossiya airlines, requesting them not to operate flights to Egypt with 27 aircraft from January 12 until further notice, as reported by “Izvestia.”
This decision followed confidential information received by Rosaviation about the potential risk of these aircraft being seized in Egyptian airports.
Aeroflot received recommendations not to fly to Egypt with 24 planes, including ten Airbus A320s, nine Boeing 777-300ERs, four Airbus A321s, and one Airbus A350. Rossiya received a similar recommendation for three Boeing 737-800s. Both airlines have currently suspended flights to Egypt using these aircraft. Rossiya clarified that this decision does not impact its operational schedule.
These 27 aircraft belong to GTLK and are part of the 37 planes currently under dispute in the High Court of Ireland. The remaining aircraft are operated by other airlines (S7, Aurora, and Yamal), which are not currently flying to Egypt.
GTLK’s European subsidiary, GTLK Europe, acquired these planes. Due to sanctions imposed last spring, GTLK Europe entered bankruptcy proceedings. The liquidators now manage the company’s assets, selling them to generate funds for creditor settlements. The list of demands includes all 37 aircraft.
Liquidators initiated legal proceedings in the Irish court to unlawfully seize the 37 aircraft from GTLK. In December, GTLK warned the Arbitration Court of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug that complying with liquidators’ demands would hinder the normal operation of the aircraft, causing delays in airports worldwide and potential declarations of hijacking in foreign jurisdictions.
On December 14, the High Court of Ireland considered the liquidators’ claims, with the decision expected to be announced in late December. According to reports from “Izvestia,” GTLK ultimately lost the case in the Irish court, which satisfied the liquidators’ demands.
