Gain Aircraft Ireland, a subsidiary of GA Telesis, has commenced legal action in a UK court against Rossiya (FV, St. Petersburg) and sister carrier Aeroflot (SU, Moscow Sheremetyevo). The legal action concerns a leased A319-100 that was seized and kept inside Russia after sanctions imposed earlier this year isolated that country's aviation industry.
According Ireland's Independent newspaper, Gain Aircraft Ireland has joined a line of other lessors attempting to use the UK legal system to retrieve their planes or seek damages from Russian airlines after planes became stranded in that country or were effectively seized and re-registered by the Russian authorities.
Prior to the invasion, GA Telesis had a long association with Rossiya and Aeroflot. In early 2020, the company announced the closing of the purchase of two Airbus A319s subject to lease with Rossiya. At the time, GA Telesis' Marc Cho called Rossiya "an outstanding airline partner."
According to the ch-aviation fleets module, GA Telesis has two A319s with Rossiya: RA-73186 (msn 3942) and RA-73216 (msn 3998). Both jets were shunted to the Russian register in March 2022 having previously been VQ-BCO and VQ-BCP respectively on the Bermudan register. Both planes remain in active service, operating domestic Russian flights for Rossiya. It is uncertain which of the two planes the legal action concerns.
GA Telesis declined to comment. A spokesperson for Rossiya was unavailable for comment.
