Belavia (B2, Minsk National) says it will continue to operate 14 weekly flights to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv Boryspil up until April 14 following an interim agreement between the Belarus Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) and the State Aviation Administration of Ukraine (SAAU).
Just prior to the beginning of the IATA Summer Season on March 28, the Belarus national carrier announced it could be forced to terminate its flights to Ukraine after it was allocated only half the 14 weekly flights it had applied for.
The SAAU justified the decision in the wake of the DCA's decision to grant Ukraine International Airlines (PS, Kyiv Boryspil) only seven of the fourteen weekly frequencies it had applied for on its proposed Kiev-Minsk route, set to launch on April 14. The SAAU argues that the allocation is in contravention of the terms of a 1995 Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) in force between the two former Soviet republics which stipulates operators from either country are entitled to 14 weekly flights between the capitals.
Following the impasse, Belarus authorities have now issued Ukraine International Airlines with their requested frequency of 14 weekly flights. However, continued operations are contingent on the outcome of a meeting between Belarus and Ukrainian authorities later this month.
"..The State Aviation Administration of Ukraine granted Belavia permission to operate 14 flights a week between Minsk and Kiev, " the Belarus carrier said in a press release. "This authorization will be valid until April 14 2015, during which time the parties must agree on the terms of flights between Minsk and Kiev."
