"Belavia": Flights to Moscow unlikely to stop on April 13
“Belavia” has not confirmed the existence of an ultimatum according to which the number of flights to Minsk organized by Russian airlines should be decreased.
However, the company does not exclude that it did exist.
Let us remind you that the Russian edition “Kommersant” has confirmed today that “an ultimatum” has been sent to Moscow from Minsk. Minsk has demanded to decrease the number of flights to Moscow. According to it, Russian airlines will be able to organize only four flights to Minsk a day instead of five.
Deputy director-general of the Belarusian airline Ihar Charhinets does not exclude that the Aviation Department of the Belarusian Ministry of Transport and Communications could send such a letter to the Russian Aviation. It could happen because the negotiations between the aviation companies did not bring any result at the end of March. Belarus still insists that the number of flights should be equal for both countries – four.
Іhar Charhіnets: “A protocol had to be signed at the end of the consultation. Nothing has been signed. We insist on sticking to the existing agreement between the two states. And nothing has changed so far, this is our old position: there should be parity – equal and fair opportunities for both sides”.
According to Charhinets, Belarusian and Russian aviation authorities will meet and try to reach an agreement about the number of Minsk-Moscow flights on Aril 13. However, Belarus is not going to change its position in this issue. The reason for it is the fact that even the existing 8 flights from the Belarusian capital to the Russian capital and back are always half-empty. The addition of flights would be inexpedient.
Charhinets says that Russians insist on it and are even decreasing the prices for tickets. The representative of the Belarusian airline thinks that it is an attempt to drive out the Belarusian airline from this direction of flights. And the Russian aviation supports the airlines. At the same time, Charhinets does not think that Russians will suspend flights to Minsk again if no agreement is reached on April 13.