Sanction Evasion Plan Foiled: Ethiopian Airlines Denies Aircraft Wet-Lease Deal With Russia

Last weekend, I reported that the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA) had published content on social media providing some details from a discussion with Russia that could involve a wet-lease deal with Ethiopian Airlines (ET). Crucially, Ethiopian Airlines’ fleet is modern and composed of Western-made jets that Russia no longer has access to given US and EU sanctions. After my report came out, the ECAA deleted the post. It seems that information might not have been theirs to share. Someone messed up.