STLC Europe Eight, an Irish subsidiary of Russian state-owned aircraft lessor GTLK Europe, has filed a lawsuit in London's High Court seeking a minimum of $72 million from EasyJet, alleging the British budget carrier abandoned six Airbus jets after terminating lease agreements in 2022.
The complaint centers on claims that the aircraft were left at airports in Madrid and Larnaca, Cyprus, without appropriate maintenance while storage charges accumulated. According to the lessor's filing, EasyJet notified STLC in April 2022 that it was ending the lease arrangements on the six aircraft, citing European Union sanctions that, the carrier argued, prevented maintenance and repairs.
STLC contests EasyJet's explanation. The lessor argues the EU sanctions did not apply to these particular aircraft because they remained outside Russia and the leasing company operates from Ireland, and therefore, it disputes the carrier's rationale for ceasing upkeep and returning the jets.
Of the six aircraft at issue, three were kept at Larnaca International Airport in Cyprus and were subsequently recovered and sold by the lessor. STLC reports that those three planes fetched proceeds that were at least $32.5 million lower than expected due to deterioration in their condition. The remaining three aircraft, which are located in Madrid, have not been sold as of the time of the filing.
The legal action seeks at least $72 million in damages, reflecting STLC's assessment of losses tied to storage, maintenance shortfalls, sale proceeds below expectations, and related costs. The case will be heard in the High Court in London, where the lessor contends the carrier breached its lease obligations by abandoning the aircraft without arranging for required maintenance while they were in lessor custody.
At the core of the dispute is a disagreement over whether EU sanctions justified EasyJet's cessation of maintenance activities. STLC maintains the sanctions did not apply to the Irish lessor's assets located outside Russia, while EasyJet's position is that sanctions made maintenance or repairs infeasible. The three aircraft in Madrid remain unsold, and the lessor is seeking compensation through the court process.
Summary - STLC Europe Eight has sued EasyJet in London's High Court for at least $72 million, alleging the airline abandoned six leased Airbus jets in 2022 and failed to maintain them while in storage in Madrid and Cyprus. Three jets sold from Cyprus generated proceeds at least $32.5 million lower than expected; three in Madrid remain unsold.