Russia sanctions pierce luxury jet world's ultra-private bubble

The gleaming, late-model European jet for sale was a rarity in the hot market for second-hand corporate aircraft. It was only after aviation lawyer Amanda Applegate’s client did some additional digging that they discovered the aircraft, while not registered in Russia, was in fact Russian-owned. For that buyer, it was a deal-breaker, said Applegate, a partner at U.S.-based Soar Aviation Law, as the West imposes sweeping sanctions in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine. The private jet world is on high alert to avoid doing business with Russia at a time when a Twitter account run by a Florida teenager, @RUOligarchJets, has focused popular attention on the fugitive luxury fleets of the ultra-rich. “When I look at compliance, it’s like a taco, wrapped in a burrito, wrapped in a chalupa,” said an executive at a business jet manufacturer. According to European data research and consulting company WINGX, there are only about 100 business jets on the Russia Register. Yet about 400 corporate aircraft flew frequently from the country last year, raising questions over the true extent of Russian control of the fleet.<br/>