Belarus’ state-owned airline Belavia is set to acquire three Airbus A330s from a little-known Gambian firm, Magic Air, to replenish its fleet depleted by Western sanctions. The US, UK, and the EU sanctioned the country’s airlines in 2021 after local authorities forced a plane carrying a dissident Belarusian journalist to land in Minsk. More sanctions followed in 2022 after Russia, a staunch ally, invaded Ukraine. The Magic Air planes, in poor condition, arrived in Minsk last August and are being refurbished for use by the summer of 2025. With passenger demand rising, the acquisition is seen as crucial for Belarus’ sole major carrier. If it succeeds, the move could offer Russia a model to bypass aviation sanctions through non-Western intermediaries.
Source: Reuters