Overview of the Airbus ACJ320neo Arrival in Russia
An Airbus ACJ320neo, valued at over $110 million, has been observed in Russia, bearing a newly assigned Russian civil aircraft registration, RA-73889. This sighting raises significant concerns due to the stringent EU and US sanctions that prohibit the export of foreign aircraft to Russia. These sanctions were enforced following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, aiming to restrict Russia’s access to advanced Western technology and services.
The ACJ320neo is a business jet variant of the popular Airbus A320neo passenger aircraft. It boasts a range of 6,937 miles and can accommodate up to 25 passengers, providing the capability to fly for up to 13 hours without refueling. Globally, there are only nine such aircraft, making this particular jet exceedingly rare and sophisticated.
Ownership and Registration Details
The jet, now registered under RA-73889, is reportedly owned by Zarakh Iliev, a prominent Russian businessman and co-founder of Kievskaya Ploschad Group, a leading entity in the international commercial property market. Despite the sanctions, Iliev has reportedly managed to amass a personal fortune estimated at around $3 billion. It is suggested that Iliev acquired this new jet to replace an older Airbus A318CJ.
The path the aircraft took before arriving in Russia is complex. Initially rolled out from Airbus’s Hamburg factory in late 2019, the jet was first registered to a Malta-based company and later transferred to a series of different owners and jurisdictions, including San Marino, Azerbaijan, and Tajikistan, before its final registration in Russia.
The Implications of Sanctions and the Fate of the Jet
The acquisition and operation of such an aircraft under the current geopolitical circumstances pose a direct challenge to international sanctions. With Russian operators restricted from accessing spare parts for Western-built aircraft, the operation of this ACJ320neo in Russia is particularly significant. Should this aircraft venture beyond Russian or allied territories, it risks being impounded due to the sanctions.
This situation highlights a potential loophole or oversight in the enforcement of international sanctions, allowing a nearly new, high-value Western aircraft to end up in Russian hands. The authorities are likely to scrutinize this case to understand how the jet was transferred to Russian ownership and to ensure compliance with international regulations.