- Insurers received permission from a London court to appeal the $1bn ruling on Russia stranded jets.
- The case involves war risks insurance policies for aircraft stranded in Russia amid the Ukraine war.
- Judge Christopher John Butcher issued the initial judgment on 6 October 2025.
- AerCap legal costs amounted to GBP81m in the proceedings.
- Defendants include AIG Europe, Lloyd’s Insurance Company and Chubb European Group while several lessors act as complainants.
Insurers have won permission to appeal a London High Court ruling that requires them to pay aircraft lessors more than $1bn under war risks insurance policies. The case concerns jets stranded in Russia amid the Ukraine war. A hearing of up to five days now follows the decision on 31 March 2026.
Judge Christopher John Butcher delivered the original judgment on 6 October 2025 after two days of hearing arguments in September 2025. The insurers put forward dozens of grounds for appeal. The judge found in June 2025 that six lessors could recover losses under war risks cover for aircraft and in some cases engines leased to Russian airlines or airlines which operated in Russia.
AerCap total legal costs reached GBP81m. The affected insurers and reinsurers who serve as defendants include AIG Europe, Lloyd’s Insurance Company, Chubb European Group and the underwriting members of Kiln Syndicate 510. Complainants include AerCap, Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, Falcon 2019-1 Aircraft 3 Limited, KDAC Aircraft Leasing, Merx Aviation Services and GASL Ireland Leasing A-1 Limited with DAE, Falcon and Merx having settled with insurers by October 2025.
