US Denies Belavia Flights to Russia and Five Other Countries

The US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security has sent a letter to the management of the airline Belavia, stating that the airline is permitted to, among other things, purchase components for Boeing airplanes and conduct their repairs and maintenance. The carrier can also fly in any direction; however, there are exceptions.

Flights of Boeing aircraft to Russia, Syria, Iran, North Korea, and Cuba are prohibited. However, such flights may be individually authorized under a license. The document lists eight specific aircraft by their tail and serial numbers.

The announcement regarding the lifting of sanctions against the Belarusian airline was made on September 11 during the U.S. Ambassador to Belarus Jon C. McCauley's visit to Minsk. It is worth noting that the Belarusian airline is also subject to EU sanctions, which were imposed in 2021. Last year, the EU General Court rejected the airline’s appeal aimed at lifting European sanctions.