Leaseholders have requested the return of more than 500 aircraft of Russian airlines
MOSCOW, March 23 - RIA Novosti. Western lessors have requested the return of more than 500 aircraft from Russian airlines, their repurchase will cost $20 billion, Russian Transport Minister Vitaly Savelyev said during a meeting of the Federation Council.
"Requests have already been received for more than 500 of our foreign-made aircraft. If we give them 500 aircraft, they will not be able to remarket them, they will not be able to resell them, that is, they simply take them away, because such a political decision," Savelyev said.
“Our main problem, it is quite serious, it costs a lot of money, firstly, we need to decide with the government what to do with the airlines that we encouraged to leave the planes. lessors do not want to sell aircraft to us," the minister said.
He added that the amount of the buyout is $20 billion, if you buy back at the residual value what you underpaid.
"This is a very large amount. The second part is letters of credit, which is also about 200 billion rubles for all airlines, because our banks - about 20-odd banks - have issued letters of credit against foreign banks, guaranteeing that payments will be made. Now these letters of credit opened and the default of the airlines, which will take place on March 28 - we hope to find a solution by then - ... this default will give a cross-default on our banks. Therefore, either the banks suffer or the airlines, because the banks are making claims, "- Saveliev said.
