How did Belarus circumvent sanctions when purchasing three Airbus aircraft?

Belarus' state-owned airline Belavia, which has been hit by sanctions, has found a way to replenish its fleet with Airbus aircraft. According to Reuters, the airline is currently preparing to sign a contract to purchase three Airbus A330 aircraft from the Gambian private airline Magic Air. These aircraft were delivered to Belarus on August 17, 2024.

Airbus A330 aircraft and their condition

According to Flightradar24 and other monitoring services, Magic Air sent three aircraft from Cairo, Istanbul and Muscat to Minsk. According to the Gambian Civil Aviation Authority, these aircraft were originally sold to a buyer from the UAE and were deregistered in Gambia on August 19, 2024. At the same time, according to sources, the aircraft are in very poor technical condition and are currently undergoing maintenance.

Since Belavia previously operated only Boeing aircraft, pilots had to undergo retraining to operate the Airbus A330. According to one of the sources, these aircraft are scheduled to begin flights in the spring-summer of 2025.

Airbus and international sanctions

Airbus stressed that it strictly complies with all applicable international laws and sanctions. According to company representatives, it is not possible to legally supply aircraft, spare parts or services to countries under sanctions. At the same time, Airbus stated that it is not able to stop third parties from violating sanctions and cannot control the market for used aircraft.

Sanctions against Belavia and their impact

In 2021, the European Union banned Belarusian airlines from flying over EU territory following the forced landing of a Ryanair aircraft by the Belarusian government. Brussels also banned Belavia from concluding new leasing contracts with European companies. In August 2023, the EU banned the supply of goods and technologies for the Belarusian aviation sector. In addition, the United States and Great Britain have imposed sanctions on Belavia.

The Belarusian airline Belavia is trying to replenish its fleet with Airbus A330 aircraft under sanctions. The purchase, made through Gambia, raises questions about the possibility of circumventing international sanctions. At the same time, Belavia is facing major technical and logistical problems in operating the new aircraft. Follow “Zamin” news on “Telegram”