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EU Sanctions Keep Russian Planes Grounded at German Airports for Over Three Years
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Over three years after the European Union imposed sanctions on Russia in 2022, several Russian planes remain grounded in German airports. Leipzig, Cologne, and Frankfurt airports currently house frozen cargo and passenger aircraft due to the restrictions, according to a DW report on August 11.
Germany’s Federal Ministry of Transport confirmed that Russian planes were grounded due to a flight ban imposed under an EU decree on February 28, 2022.
Among the planes impacted are three Antonov AN-124 cargo jets owned by the Russian air cargo company Volga-Dnepr, which are stationed at Leipzig-Halle Airport.
Additionally, a Boeing 737 belonging to the cargo airline Atran, along with a Bombardier Challenger 300 owned by UTair, remain grounded at Cologne-Bonn Airport.
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At Frankfurt-Hahn Airport, a Boeing 747, previously operated by British company CargoLogicAir, also sits idle. The company ceased operations and declared bankruptcy in 2022 due to the sanctions, DW writes.
An Airbus A320, which had been at Munich Airport until June 2022, was used by Russia’s Aeroflot airline. However, the aircraft’s Irish-Chinese leasing company settled the €470,000 airport fees before receiving clearance to depart for Ostrava, Czechia.
At least a few more Russian-linked planes are still grounded at airports across Germany, with ongoing investigations to clarify their ownership.
Previously, it was reported that Russia’s aircraft manufacturers have delivered just 1 of 15 planned commercial jets so far this year, as sanctions on foreign components stall production and high interest rates deter investment, according Reuters, citing Swiss aviation intelligence provider ch-aviation.
As of mid-November, Russian airlines have grounded 34 out of 66 Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft in their fleets, according to Russian media. The reason for this decision is the difficulties with maintaining the US-made Pratt & Whitney engines, which are linked to sanctions imposed on Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine.
