Business news

MINSK, 30 July (BelTA) – The Belarusian air carrier Belavia and the Russian air carrier Ural Airlines have signed a codeshare agreement, which will come into effect on 1 August 2018, the Belavia press service told BelTA.

In line with the agreement Belavia will use Ural Airlines’ flights from Moscow (the Domodedovo Airport) to Irkutsk, Mineralnyye Vody, Ufa, Omsk, Chelyabinsk, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, and Tomsk. In turn, Ural Airlines will be able to use Belavia’s flights from Minsk to Moscow (the Domodedovo Airport) and Saint Petersburg (the Pulkovo Airport) as from 1 August 2018. Passengers will be able to buy one ticket to travel the entire length of the way serviced by the two air carriers.

Belavia Director General Anatoly Gusarov praised the codeshare agreement with Ural Airlines. He noted the agreement opens up new travel opportunities for Belavia clients. He also noted that Belavia counts on Ural Airlines in the continued work to establish a transit hub in the Minsk National Airport.

The codeshare agreement will allow Belavia and Ural Airlines to increase passenger traffic, particularly the number of transit passengers, who travel between Russia and Belarus. Belavia’s B2 code will be added to the Russian partner’s flights while Ural Airlines’ U6 code will be seen in the Belarusian air carrier’s flights.

Belavia is Belarus’ top air carrier. Based in the Minsk National Airport, it offers regular flights to 50 destinations in 27 countries. The company operates a fleet of 29 aircraft (five Boeing 737-800 jets, six Boeing 737-500, seven Boeing 737-300, three Embraer 175, four Embraer 195, and four CRJ-100/-200 jets).

Ural Airlines is a leading Russian air carrier in terms of the volume of passenger transportation. In 2017 Ural Airlines carried over 8 million passengers, 23.7% up from 2016. The company offers flights to over 200 destinations and operates a fleet of 46 Airbus aircraft (24 A320 aircraft, 15 A321 aircraft, and 7 A319 aircraft).