Aeroflot PJSC is looking at purchasing eight leased Airbus SE jets after the European Union provided a mechanism for financiers to dispose of some planes held in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine, Tass reported.
Aeroflot will decide whether to buy the A330 wide-bodies at a board meeting Monday, the news agency said, citing a company filing. The aircraft are on so-called finance leases, for which the EU this month created a carve out from sanctions allowing the receipt of payments from deals signed before Feb. 26.
Most of the 500 or so foreign-owned planes stuck in Russia are on operating leases where airlines rent planes for a set period and can return them to the owner after the contract expires.
Russia passed a law preventing foreign-owned jets from leaving without state permission after the Ukraine invasion triggered sanctions compelling lessors to cancel contracts and seek the return of their planes.