(Bloomberg) -- An Airbus SE jetliner freshly handed over to Russia's flag-carrier airline left France for Moscow several hours after President Vladimir Putin had launched his invasion of Ukraine, prompting sweeping sanctions.
Airbus transferred the A350 widebody's title to Aeroflot PJSC on Feb. 22, according to monthly delivery figures published Wednesday. Airline-tracking website FlightRadar24 indicates, though, that it departed the manufacturer's Toulouse base only on the evening of Feb. 24, after the war was underway.
An Airbus spokesman said that the handover was pre-planned, compliant with rules at the time and in no way sped up because of the political situation, adding that airline customers generally determine when to fly out an aircraft.
On the day of the A350 title transfer, curbs were being imposed on Russia after Putin recognized two separatist republics in eastern Ukraine and continued to build up forces ahead of the main incursion. The U.S. unveiled sanctions on the sale of sovereign debt, while Germany warned of penalties. Airspace closures to Russian planes and a ban on aerospace shipments didn't take effect until several days after the invasion.
Airbus said that it “is applying and will continue to apply the sanctions fully.” The world's biggest planemaker still has 13 of the long-haul A350s destined for Aeroflot, which it can no longer hand over. France shut its airspace to Russian aircraft from the evening of Feb. 27, the same day as a broader European Union ban was agreed.
According to FlightRadar24 data, the plane took a direct route to Moscow from Toulouse, as airspace bans weren't yet in place. The data shows that following its delivery the airline's new A350 has performed flights to Maldives, Seychelles and Cuba.
The handover of an aircraft is a multi-stage process involving a technical flight and inspection of the cabin to ensure everything is in order, before final payment is made and the plane's title officially transferred. The delivery flight is then made, usually piloted by the customer airline's own staff.
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