Aeroflot passenger planes stand at Sheremetyevo Airport outside Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, March 1, 2022.
After President Vladimir Putin allowed Russia to re-register in Russia to avoid seizure under sanctions, Russian news outlet RBK reported that China banned Russian airlines from flying foreign-owned jetliners in its airspace. Have given. attack on Ukraine.
The European Union, which is home to major aircraft leasing companies, in February banned the sale or lease of planes to Russian carriers. Putin responded in March by approving a re-registration measure that suggested foreign owners could never recover billions of dollars worth of planes.
RBK, citing two unnamed sources, said China’s air regulator last month asked all foreign carriers to update ownership information and other details. It said Russian airlines that could not provide documents showing their planes ‘de-registered abroad’ were barred from Chinese airspace.
China’s Civil Aviation Administration did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation and details of the decision.
President Xi Jinping’s government said in February that it had a “no boundaries” friendship with Moscow, but tried to distance itself from Putin’s war. Beijing has criticized Western sanctions, but it appears to be seen as helping Moscow, fearing possible penalties against Chinese companies.
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