The UTair Aviation joint-stock company (U?air, Khanty-Mansiysk) has completed a deal in the Republic of South Africa bringing back its helicopters that had been leased by South African-based Heyns Helicopters.
Since the mid 90’s, eight UTair’s Mi-8MTV-1 helicopters have been operated by the South African airline company. In 2000, Heyns Helicopters stopped paying rent and at the same time refused to return the helicopters. In addition, three helicopters out of the leased eight had crashed.
UTair had nothing else to do but file a lawsuit in the Republic of South Africa in order to recover its helicopters and receive a compensation for its losses.
According to a ruling of the South African court of September 2003, Heyns Helicopters will return the helicopters to UTair and compensate for the losses incurred by the Russian company.
This case is very important for UTair and will help the airline company develop its international operations and continue business in the Republic of South Africa.
It is worth mentioning that only a few lawsuits with Russian airline companies protecting their interests abroad turned out to be successful for our companies.
At present, 14 helicopters of the Russian airline company provide transport services to UN peacekeeping missions in East Timor, Sierra Leone, Eritrea, Congo and Liberia with another five Mi-8T helicopters working in South Africa.
UTair is a major helicopter operator in the world and among the top passenger carriers in Russia with a total of 294 aircraft.