There are a number of reasons for registrations other then the home country of the operator.
In the seventies and eighties the US leasing or financing companies insisted on registrating the planes they leased out or financed in the states. The planes would then also still resort under US law which would make for example reposession in case of non payment simpler.
The KLM also flew a number of their jumbo’s with american regs for some years. Once they had been fully paid they became fully Dutch.
Another example is Alitalia which is selling its planes to an Irish leasing company and leasing them back. Those planes are flying Irish now.
Another reason is to avoid import taxes in the home country. This is happining a lot in Russia at the moment. Russia is still protecting its own aviation industry and is charging import duties on foreign manufactured planes. All airbuses an Boeings going to Russia are registered in Bermuda which is a recognised off-shore platform for them.
A third reason is a ban on flying the EU has imposed on a number of countries. These countries and airlines involved may wish to continue flying to the EU. One of the ways to do this is to register the plane in another country that is allowed to fly. (This then also includes adhering to the maintenance and other regulations of that other country). Portugeese airline Hi-fly does this for a number of airlines from Africa, their services include maintaining and operating the aircraft.
You also see a fair number of light, privat aircraft flying around europe still with American registrations. This is mostly because their owners have an American pilots license which is not easily (or cheaply) converterd to their home country. They fly here under american law and rules.
There are still more reasons for doing so. On the other hand countries can also require a commercial airliner operating in their country to fall under the laws of that country and be registered with them.
hope this helps
rgds
EC
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