A charter aircraft carrying Russian foreign nationals has been held at the Yellowknife airport in Canada's Northwest Territories, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said in a tweet on Thursday. "We will continue to hold Russia accountable for its invasion of Ukraine," Alghabra added.<br/>
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Britain will ban Russian companies from the multi-billion dollar aviation and space insurance market in London, the world's largest commercial and speciality insurance centre, the finance ministry said on Thursday. Russian companies in the aviation or space industry will be blocked from accessing British-based insurance or reinsurance services directly or indirectly, the ministry said. "The UK Government will bring in legislation to prohibit UK-based insurance and reinsurance providers from undertaking financial transactions connected with a Russian entity or for use in Russia," the Treasury department said.<br/>"Further details of the legislation will be available in due course." The sanctions only apply to aviation and space insurance but the British government has said it is constantly looking at new ways to isolate Russia. The move on aviation insurance will leave Russian commercial airlines scrabbling to get cover elsewhere. Industry sources say this could include from Chinese reinsurers, while other Western insurers are likely to hold back from the business, fearful of other countries imposing similar restrictions.<br/>
Boeing will strictly adhere to the export controls and restrictions that have been announced governing work in Russia, the US airplane manufacturer's CE said on Thursday. Chicago-based Boeing said earlier this week it was suspending parts, maintenance and technical support for Russian airlines as the effect of sanctions in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine ripple across the global aviation industry. Boeing has also suspended major operations in Moscow and temporarily closed its office in Kyiv. "Moving forward, Boeing will continue to follow the lead of the U.S. government and strictly adhere to the export controls and restrictions that have been announced governing work in Russia," Boeing CE Dave Calhoun told employees in a memo. Boeing also said it will provide a $2m emergency assistance package to support humanitarian response efforts in Ukraine.<br/>
Foreign aircraft lessors are facing the increasing possibility of writeoffs that could total in the billions of dollars as Russia considers ways to defy worldwide sanctions and keep carriers such as Aeroflot flying. Russia’s Transportation Ministry is weighing options including buying or even nationalizing hundreds of Airbus and Boeing planes that lessors have demanded be returned under European Union economic sanctions, the Russian news agency RBC reported. Foreign aircraft lessors are facing the increasing possibility of writeoffs that could total in the billions of dollars as Russia considers ways to defy worldwide sanctions and keep carriers such as Aeroflot flying. Russia’s Transportation Ministry is weighing options including buying or even nationalizing hundreds of Airbus and Boeing planes that lessors have demanded be returned under European Union economic sanctions, the Russian news agency RBC reported. In a normal commercial situation, the firms would have the upper hand because contracts give them rights to repossess aircraft when they can’t collect on fees due. “But if Russia tells the airlines just to keep flying the planes, what can they do,” he said. Dublin-based AerCap Holdings has the most planes leased to Russia at 152, with a market value approaching $2.5b, according to IBA. Carlyle Aviation Management’s exposure is at about 8% of its fleet, while AerCap and SMBC Aviation Capital each have about 7% of their planes in the country, according to an updated report from the aviation consultancy. <br/>
Embraer has become the latest aircraft manufacturer to sever ties with Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. The Brazilian airframer says it will no longer provide support to operators in the country who are covered by international sanctions. “Embraer is closely monitoring the evolving situation and has been complying, and will continue to comply, with the international sanctions imposed on Russia and certain regions of Ukraine by suspending parts, maintenance and technical support services for customers affected by sanctions,” it states. Cirium fleets data shows the manufacturer has relatively limited exposure to the Russian market, with just 22 commercial aircraft and 17 business jets in service there. S7 Airlines has the largest fleet of Embraer aircraft, flying 17 E170 regional jets. All are leased from Dublin-based AerCap and already appear to be covered by EU sanctions which restrict leasing arrangements with Russian carriers.<br/>
The US government’s ban on Russia aircraft has left Boeing and GE Aviation unable to continue their longstanding practice of hiring a Russian airline to transport large aircraft components. Both companies have for years hired Russian carrier Volga-Dnepr Airlines to transport oversized components on US domestic flights, using the airline’s Antonov AN-124 freighters. Those jets can carry outsized cargo that cannot fit in other large freighters, not even 747s. The charter flights typically transport the components between US manufacturing sites. But on 2 March, the US Department of Transportation banned Russian airlines from operating in the USA as part of the US government’s economic response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The DOT’s order specifically cites Volga-Dnepr. The FAA confirms the airline can no longer operate in the USA. Boeing and GE are downplaying potential impacts to their operations. “We’ll work closely with our wide range of supply chain and logistics partners to manage through any potential impacts,” Boeing says. “Regarding engine transportation, we do not have concerns at this time,” says GE. The companies use Volga-Dnepr’s aircraft frequently. For instance, on 25 February – the day after Russia’s invasion – Volga-Dnepr filed a request with the DOT to operate 12 AN-124 charter flights in March and April between Florida and Washington state “on behalf of Boeing”.<br/>
General Electric Co will donate $4.5m in medical equipment and humanitarian support for Ukraine, according to an internal staff memo. In the memo, CE Larry Culp said the industrial conglomerate's healthcare unit is donating $4m in medical equipment, including handheld ultrasound devices, mobile x-ray units, ventilators and patient monitors. The company, through its foundation, will make a $400,000 donation to provide immediate relief to refugees in need of emergency cash. It will donate another $100,000 to Airlink, a humanitarian relief organization that connects airlines and pre-qualified non-profits to help communities in crisis, Culp said.<br/>