ECOCLUB Monitoring™

Most of Russia's major airlines have many Bermuda-registered, leased Airbus and Boeing aircraft. Bermuda's Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA) an ICAO Member, brands itself as an 'Offshore Aircraft Registry' offering competitive rates and favourable tax treatment. BCAA announced on 12 March 2022 that "it is unable to "sustain safety oversight' on Russian operated aircraft and thus 'provisionally suspended all Certificates of Airworthiness" for around 745 aircraft, or 50% of Russia's airline fleet, effectively grounding these aircraft. Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory.  Similarly, other Russian aircraft have been removed from the Isle of Man registry. It is unclear if these aircraft can be quickly re-registered on the Russian registry.The practice of the Aviation Flags of Convenience, similar to that of the shipping industry was enabled through the liberalisation and deregulation in the aviation industry and as a result, working conditions, and sometimes safety standards, decline accordingly. The event constitutes an interesting combination of neoliberal globalization, nationalism and colonialism, and a part of the ongoing discussion of the role of tax havens. 

Read more: FlightGlobal | Aviation24.be | Simple Flying

Update: According to the Kommersant newspaper, most Russian airliners continued flights despite the suspended airworthiness certificates.