Superjet frozen out by Riga's Air Baltic rescue plan

摘要

Air Baltic is likely to be forbidden from ordering the Sukhoi Superjet under a clause in the shareholder agreement due to be signed by the Latvian government and the carrier's prospective new investor Ralf-Dieter Montag-Girmes, chief executive Martin Gauss discloses. Speaking to Flight International, Gauss says the clause, which was inserted into the agreement by the Latvian government, prevents the Riga-based carrier from acquiring or leasing any aircraft from a company linked to a "military-industrial complex" that is subject to European sanctions. While the clause does not name Sukhoi specifically, Gauss confirms that because the manu- facturer is owned by Russia's United Aircraft - which is currently subject to EU and US sanctions - Air Baltic would not be allowed to order the Superjet.