MOSCOW, March 18 (RAPSI) - The Commercial Court of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region has granted claims filed by VTB bank and Gazprombank to include 2.63 billion rubles ($38.4 million) and 13.5 billion rubles ($197 million) in debt respectively on the creditors’ list of Transaero airline, according to court records.

Currently, the sum seeking by Gazprombank from Transaero is the largest demanded by one of its numerous creditors.

VTB earlier filed two more lawsuits seeking to collect 9.48 billion rubles ($138 million) from the air carrier. Thus, the bank demands over 12 billion rubles ($175 million) in total from Transaero.

A similar claim by Vneshprombank for 1.04 billion rubles ($15 million) will be considered on April 27.

Transaero found itself unable to pay its debts estimating 250 billion rubles ($3.6 billion). Government-approved plan of transferring 75% of company’s shares to Aeroflot failed. Its problems resulted in a large number of flight cancels and delays.

In October, Sberbank and Alfa Bank filed bankruptcy petitions against the troubled airline.  In November, VTB joined the bankruptcy lawsuit against Transaero.

The Commercial Court of St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region initiated a bankruptcy procedure against Transaero on December 16.

A range of companies filed lawsuits against Transaero demanding payment of debts. Thus, foreign companies related to VTB Leasing demand more than 145 million dollars, companies related to Rosneft demand more than 4 billion rubles ($58 mln), the State Corporation for Air Traffic demands more than 700 million rubles ($10.2 mln). Several lawsuits were filed by the companies related to the airports.