EU set to ban Belavia from leasing aircraft from European companies
<p> MINSK, Nov 24 - PrimePress. The European Union (EU) intends to prohibit the Belarusian state air carrier Belavia to lease planes from European companies, which, according to Brussels, should prevent the transportation of migrants through Belarus to the EU borders, said President of the European Council, Charles Michel. </p> <p> </p> <p> “The majority of the fleet of Belavia are aircraft leased from European companies. This will be stopped when the decision is taken, which is imminent,” Charles Michel said in his speech before members of the EU Parliament in Strasbourg. </p> <p> </p> <p> As previously reported with reference to Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney, Ireland does not intend to conclude new contracts for leasing aircraft for Belavia in the context of the sanctions against Belarus. </p> <p> </p> <p> Coveney spoke in favour of ruling out further contracts or additional lease contracts for aircraft for Belarus, in order to increase the pressure and sanctions on the Belarusian regime. </p> <p> </p> <p> In reply to Coveney’s statement, the Aviation Department of the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Belarus noted that all agreements on aircraft leasing with EU companies, including Ireland, had been signed long before the outbreak of the migration crisis. At the same time, head of the department Artyom Sikorsky stated that if the West banned Belavia from leasing planes, it might switch to Russian aircraft. </p> <p> </p> <p> Belavia is the largest airline in Belarus. Currently, due to airspace bans, it operates scheduled flights to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia, Israel, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, UAE, and chartered flights to Turkey, Egypt and Jordan. It has been a full member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) since 1997 and a member of the European Regional Airlines Association (ERAA) since 2010. The company was incorporated in January 2014 and is 100% state-owned. End </p>
2021-11-25
Primepress
EU set to ban Belavia from leasing aircraft from European companies
MINSK, Nov 24 - PrimePress. The European Union (EU) intends to prohibit the Belarusian state air carrier Belavia to lease planes from European companies, which, according to Brussels, should prevent the transportation of migrants through Belarus to the EU borders, said President of the European Council, Charles Michel.
“The majority of the fleet of Belavia are aircraft leased from European companies. This will be stopped when the decision is taken, which is imminent,” Charles Michel said in his speech before members of the EU Parliament in Strasbourg.
As previously reported with reference to Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney, Ireland does not intend to conclude new contracts for leasing aircraft for Belavia in the context of the sanctions against Belarus.
Coveney spoke in favour of ruling out further contracts or additional lease contracts for aircraft for Belarus, in order to increase the pressure and sanctions on the Belarusian regime.
In reply to Coveney’s statement, the Aviation Department of the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Belarus noted that all agreements on aircraft leasing with EU companies, including Ireland, had been signed long before the outbreak of the migration crisis. At the same time, head of the department Artyom Sikorsky stated that if the West banned Belavia from leasing planes, it might switch to Russian aircraft.
Belavia is the largest airline in Belarus. Currently, due to airspace bans, it operates scheduled flights to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia, Israel, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, UAE, and chartered flights to Turkey, Egypt and Jordan. It has been a full member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) since 1997 and a member of the European Regional Airlines Association (ERAA) since 2010. The company was incorporated in January 2014 and is 100% state-owned. End