Some Russian airlines are considering setting up Turkish-based carriers to circumvent sanctions that prevent them from leasing planes and accessing maintenance and repair facilities after invading Ukraine.
According to Bloomberg sources, Pegas Touristik, which owns Nordwind Airlines, and Anex Tourism Group, which operates Azur Air, are considering opening new airlines in Turkey and are in talks with leasing companies to acquire aircraft.
Unlike the state-owned Aeroflot, which flew to about 56 countries before the invasion of Ukraine, Azur Air, and Nordwind transport mostly Russian tourists to tourist destinations. They are based in Russia, but both are part of larger travel companies controlled by Turkish businessmen. The carriers were not subject to individual sanctions, so the actions would not break the rules, the sources said on condition of anonymity.
European Union sanctions forced leasing companies based mainly in Ireland to suspend airline leases in Russia and banned carriers from flying in European airspace. The airlines, for their part, refused to return the planes to lessors after the Russian government, determined to keep the country’s air service, forced them to obtain permission before returning the planes.
More and more Russian tourists are coming to Turkey despite a shortage of flights that could reach three million this year compared to five million in 2021, said Maya Lomidze, head of the Association of Tour Operators.
But “demand far exceeds supply” on routes to Turkey as Turkish Airlines has not received all of the additional slots requested from Russian aviation authorities and a ban on chartered aircraft abroad limits the ability of Russian carriers, she said.
Before the Russian invasion, there were 34 Boeing aircraft in Azur Air’s fleet, according to planespotters.net. Nordwind had 28 aircraft including Airbus SE and Boeing.