Business news

6 Jan 2026

Minister: Belavia launches flights to Asia, plans more destinations in the future

An archive photo

MINSK, 6 January (BelTA) – Thanks to the acquisition of Airbus A330-200 long-haul aircraft, Belavia has for the first time begun flying to China’s Hainan Island, Vietnam’s Phu Quoc, and Sri Lanka. Flights to Thailand are scheduled for January. The airline is currently developing more than a dozen new routes for the near future, including destinations in Jordan, Tunisia, and various Chinese cities, Belarus’ Transport and Communications Minister Aleksei Lyakhnovich said in an interview with the Economy of Belarus Magazine.

Belavia operates regular flights from Minsk National Airport and the airports of Gomel, Brest, and Mogilev to 22 airports in 12 countries. In 2025, charter flights were launched from Minsk to Salalah (Oman) and Ras Al Khaimah (UAE). The first regular flights also began from Brest to St. Petersburg and from Mogilev to Moscow. In December, flights resumed from Minsk to Almaty, and in January 2026 service to Israel will restart.

"In 2025, Belavia’s fleet was expanded with three long-haul Airbus A330-200 aircraft. This was a landmark event not only for our national carrier but for all of Belarusian civil aviation. The capabilities of these airliners allow long-distance flights without refueling. Two aircraft are already operating on existing routes, and another is planned to enter service by February," the minister stressed.

Given the growing demand among Belarusians for air travel and the popularity of new tourist destinations, the priority task in the near term will be further expansion of the fleet. Next year, Belavia plans to purchase several more aircraft.

The national carrier’s fleet is equipped with comfortable Boeing, Embraer, and Airbus aircraft, all meeting international safety standards.