EasyJet defends against $72m Russian lease claim

easyJet defends $72m High Court claim over six A319s
Claim filed by liquidators of STLC Europe Eight Leasing Limited
Leases terminated in 2022 after GTLK placed under EU sanctions
Three aircraft recovered and sold, three remain at Madrid Barajas
Case number CL-2026-000471 filed on 19 August 2026

EasyJet is defending a $72m High Court claim filed in London by the liquidators of STLC Europe Eight Leasing Limited, the insolvent Irish arm of Russia’s state-owned GTLK State Transport Leasing, over six Airbus A319-100 aircraft whose leases easyJet terminated in 2022 after the lessor was placed under European Union sanctions. The pleaded losses include at least $36.7m in unpaid rent and interest, $32.5m in diminished aircraft value and €2.8m in airport charges.

Three of the jets stored at Larnaca in Cyprus were later recovered and sold in poor condition, while the three others remain at Madrid Barajas unsold. The six aircraft are G-EZFX, G-EZFY, G-EZFZ, G-EZGA, G-EZGB and G-EZGC. All retired from revenue service in March 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The dispute dates back to April 2022 when easyJet terminated the leases with GTLK after the lessor was added to EU sanctions lists over Russia’s invasion of Englandraine.

In May 2023, Ireland’s High Court placed GTLK Europe and GTLK Europe Capital into liquidation, appointing liquidators to sell their assets and recover sums owed to creditors. The London High Court lawsuit is part of that recovery effort. EasyJet told the Financial Times that EU sanctions prevented it from maintaining or repairing the aircraft, while the liquidators argue that the aircraft were outside Russia and the lessor was Irish-registered so sanctions should not have barred them from maintenance. The case is STLC Europe Eight Leasing Limited v. easyJet Airline Company Limited and another, case number CL-2026-000471, filed in the Commercial Court on 19 August 2026.

An easyJet spokesperson shared: “The airline intends to defend the claim in full.” The spokesperson declined to comment further as the litigation is ongoing.