(Reuters) — BOC Aviation Ltd. has launched legal action to pursue claims against 16 insurers over lessor-owned aircraft stuck in Russia, an Irish High Court filing shows.
The insurers named in the proceedings, which the filing shows were issued on Nov. 3, include Lloyd’s of London Ltd., American International Group Inc., Chubb Ltd. and Swiss Re.
Lloyd’s and Swiss Re declined to comment and AIG and Chubb did not immediately respond to requests for comment on BOC’s legal moves, which did not include details on the size of the lessor’s claim.
Leasing companies have begun pursuing claims for huge losses since they lost control of more than 400 leased planes worth nearly $1
0 billion after Western countries sanctioned Russia over its February invasion of Ukraine and Moscow blocked the jets from leaving.Singapore-based BOC acknowledged an $804 million asset write-down in August related to the 17 aircraft it owns that remain in Russia, saying it was unlikely to recover the jets “in the foreseeable future, if ever.”
BOC said in August that it had filed insurance claims to recover the losses and would vigorously pursue them.
Its chief executive Robert Martin told analysts in August that the proceedings “will keep lawyers busy for many years” and could require a complete overhaul of aviation insurance.
Dublin-based AerCap Holdings NV, the world’s largest aircraft lessor, in June filed a $3.5 billion lawsuit in London’s High Court over its insurance claim for more than 100 seized planes, the largest claim by any lessor related to the conflict.
Other major landlords including Avolon and Dubai Aerospace Enterprise have also launched proceedings.
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