Russian Bizjet To Remain Grounded at Farnborough

A Bombardier Global 6500 that has been impounded at the UK’s Farnborough Airport since 2022 is likely to remain grounded following an unsuccessful appeal by its Russian owner to overturn existing government sanctions levied against him. Currently parked up at the south side of the airport, signs of weathering around the windows and engine nacelles indicate the jet has not moved in some time. It is unclear what, if any, maintenance has been performed during its impoundment to date.

The Global 6500, registered as LX-FLY with private air charter company Global Jet Luxembourg, was used by Russian billionaire Eugene Shvidler since its delivery in November 2020. However, a month after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, then-UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed the aircraft had been “indefinitely detained” as part of new 2022 legislation that “bans Russian aircraft from overflying or landing in the UK, and allows the government to detain aircraft, including those owned by oligarchs.”

Shvidler himself, who currently lives in the U.S., was originally sanctioned in March 2022. The initial ruling referenced his “extensive and highly lucrative business connections with major Russian entities, partly as a result of his connections with [Russian oligarch] Roman Abramovich.” His previous position as a former longstanding director of multinational mining and steel manufacturing company Evraz was also cited, with the UK designating the company “of strategic importance to Russia.”

Although Shvidler emigrated from the former USSR in 1989 and was naturalized as a British citizen in 2010, two former appeals have failed to overturn the asset freeze, with the most recent Supreme Court hearing ruling on July 29 that his sanctioning was “proportionate and lawful.” Farnborough Airport was approached for comment but has not responded at the time of publication.