The Russian Foreign Ministry protested to the Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Moscow, Janita Abevikreme Liyanaga, in connection with the detention of an Aeroflot aircraft in Sri Lanka. This was announced on Friday, June 3, in the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The ministry called on the country’s authorities to resolve this problem as soon as possible “in order to avoid its negative impact on traditionally friendly bilateral relations.”
Earlier that day, it became known that the Aeroflot aircraft was forbidden to leave Sri Lanka. This decision was made by the High Commercial Court of the largest city in the country – Colombo. The ban is valid until June 16 and was issued after considering a complaint filed by the leasing company Celestial Aviation Trading Limited in Ireland.
The Aeroflot board was supposed to fly to Moscow on the morning of June 2, local time. As noted, stranded passengers will be taken to Russia by other flights. Rosaviatsia is currently dealing with the settlement of this problem.
The Russian airline announced that Aeroflot passengers who are in Colombo with tickets for return flights to Moscow on June 2, 4 and 5 will be taken out of Sri Lanka on June 4 and 5.
The carrier also suspended commercial flights to Colombo (Sri Lanka) for the near future due to the unreliability of the situation in terms of ensuring unhindered flights of the airline’s aircraft.
Difficulties with flights abroad for Russian airlines arose against the backdrop of the risk of arrest of their aircraft due to Western sanctions imposed after the start of a special military operation to protect Donbass.
The restrictions include a ban on the supply of aircraft and spare parts to Russian carriers, as well as on insurance and maintenance. By March 28, foreign leasing companies were supposed to take their aircraft from Russian operators.
On March 14, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law legalizing the ability to register the rights to foreign aircraft leased by Russian companies, so now Russian airlines can use foreign aircraft on domestic routes and issue them with RF airworthiness certificates.
