Turkey's Havas may stop services to Russian airlines' U.S.-made planes

Turkey's airport ground service provider Havas told Russian and Belarusian airliners that it may stop providing services to their United States-origin aircraft, in line with Western sanctions against Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. A Havas letter dated Jan. 31 and seen by Reuters, with the subject line of "potential restrictions on Boeing aircraft", was sent days before US officials met Turkish government and private sector officials to urge cooperation with US curbs on Russia. The Havas letter mentioned "some or all flights" of Russian and Belarusian airlines' aircraft that contain more than 25% of US origin technology. Russian forces used Belarus as a launch pad for their abortive attack on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, at the start of the war nearly a year ago but Belarus has ruled out joining the conflict. Havas said the Turkish aviation industry received warning letters from the US Department of Commerce, and the letter was to respond to US export controls related to the Ukraine war. "In that respect, we are running a due-dilligence process to identify risks and consequences to our business and stakeholders. As a result of this, we may find ourselves unable to serve some or all of your flights," the Havas letter said. As part of sweeping Western sanctions and export controls on Moscow, the United States restricted licensing, parts and services - from new airframes and engines to cupholders and fuel - on planes of US origin like Boeing jets, or that contain up to 25% US materials.<br/>