The Russian insurer NSK has settled a claim by GA Telesis for the loss of two Airbus narrowbodies and their engines, which were on lease to Rossiya (FV, St. Petersburg) when Russia invaded Ukraine. They remained stranded in Russia and have been subsequently re-registered. Rossiya is a sister carrier to the majority state-owned Aeroflot (SU, Moscow Sheremetyevo).
GA Telesis confirmed the payment (but not the amount) in a December 21, 2023, statement. "Effective upon receipt of the insurance settlement proceeds from NSK, a Russian insurance company, the company released its claims against NSK, Aeroflot, Rossiya, and their international reinsurers with respect to the Aircraft and their installed aircraft engines, " the statement said. "The insurance settlements and receipt of the settlement proceeds were approved by the United States Treasury and are consistent with other applicable sanctions regimes."
Last year, a ch-aviation report revealed details of the two A319-100s placed at Rossiya by GA Telesis subsidiary, Gain Aircraft Ireland. Whilst not cited in last week's statement, the relevant aircraft are VQ-BCO (msn 3942) and VQ-BCP (msn 3998). Following the outbreak of hostilities in early 2022 and the imposition of sanctions against Russia, local authorities switched both aircraft to the Russian register and re-registered them as RA-73186 and RA-73216, respectively. Flight tracking sites reveal both remain in active service for Rossiya.
The GA Telesis payment is part of a spate of late 2023 settlements between NSK and aircraft lessors. At or around the same time, the insurer has paid out and closed the book on a USD572 million claim from AerCap and a claim from Air Lease Corporation.
