A Boeing 737-400F operated by Russian cargo carrier Atran has remained parked at Cologne/Bonn Airport since February 2022, accumulating an estimated €250,000–300,000 in unpaid parking charges. The aircraft, registration VQ-BVF, was due to continue to Liège after landing in Germany but never departed, and no current contact is available to settle the bill.
The 28-year-old freighter occupies a long-term parking area and does not affect the airport’s daily operations. An external maintenance company reportedly carries out regular inspections, but the aircraft cannot fly without a valid airworthiness certificate. Bermuda’s aviation authority withdrew certificates from Russian-operated aircraft after the invasion of Ukraine, while the maintenance records needed for recertification are believed to remain with Atran in Moscow.
Ownership is also unclear. Aviation Capital Group, based in California, is identified as the lessor in aircraft databases, while the jet is registered in Bermuda and was operated by Atran. The aircraft previously flew for Istanbul Airlines, City Bird, Skynet Asia Airways and AirBridgeCargo before joining Atran in 2017.
The grounded freighter contrasts with Atran’s recent operational restart. The airline operated its first regular flight since its four-year pause on 16 October with another Boeing 737-400F, registration RA-73854. The aircraft is initially serving destinations in Russia’s Far East, while the Cologne-based VQ-BVF remains stranded and its accumulated charges unresolved.