Turkey's Havas may stop services to Russian airlines' U.S.-made planes -letter (updated)

Tav Havalimanlari Holding

03/02/2023 21:21

(Adds details from Havas ground services provider's letter,
background)
    By Jonathan Spicer
       ANKARA, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Turkey's airport ground
service provider Havas told Russian and Belarusian airliners
that it may stop providing services to their United
States-origin aircraft, in line with Western sanctions against
Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.
    A Havas letter dated Jan. 31 and seen by Reuters, with the
subject line of "potential restrictions on Boeing aircraft", was
sent days before U.S. officials met Turkish government and
private sector officials to urge cooperation with U.S. curbs on
Russia.
    The Havas letter mentioned "some or all flights" of Russian
and Belarusian airlines' aircraft that contain more than 25% of
U.S. origin technology. Russian forces used Belarus as a launch
pad for their abortive attack on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, at
the start of the war nearly a year ago but Belarus has ruled out
joining the conflict.
        Havas said the Turkish aviation industry received
warning letters from the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the
letter was to respond to U.S. export controls related to the
Ukraine war.
    "In that respect, we are running a due-dilligence process to
identify risks and consequences to our business and
stakeholders. As a result of this, we may find ourselves unable
to serve some or all of your flights," the Havas letter said.
        As part of sweeping Western sanctions and export
controls on Moscow, the United States restricted licensing,
parts and services - from new airframes and engines to
cupholders and fuel - on planes of U.S. origin like Boeing jets,
or that contain up to 25% U.S. materials.
    Havas asked Russian and Belarusian airlines for a list of
aircraft that contain less than 25% of U.S. origin technology,
advising them to plan flights to be operated with those planes.
    Havas will only serve aircraft that contain less than 25% of
U.S. origin technology, in the case that U.S. authorities issue
an order denying export privileges to the airline operating the
flight, it said.
    Havas, Turkey's largest airport ground services provider,
operates in many airports including the biggest cities Istanbul,
Ankara, Izmir and Antalya.
    In December, officials from the U.S. administration held a
two-day workshop in Turkey to warn Turkish companies that they
could be breaching U.S. war-time restrictions on Moscow when
they provide an array of services to arriving Russian aircraft
including handling, refuelling and new parts at airports.
 (Reporting by Jonathan Spicer; Writing by Huseyin Hayatsever;
Editing by Grant McCool)
 ((Huseyin.Hayatsever@reuters.com;))