Due to flight bans from at least 16 countries — including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and one province in Russia — the flag carrier and national airline of Belarus has been forced to cancel flights to destinations in those countries.
Belavia Cancels Flights to At Least 16 Countries — For Months
Due to flight bans imposed by aviation authorities in at least 16 countries, effective immediately, Belavia Belarusian Airlines has canceled flights to and from the following 24 destinations, which are listed in alphabetical order:
- Amsterdam — through Saturday, October 30, 2021
- Barcelona — through Saturday, October 30, 2021
- Berlin — through Saturday, October 30, 2021
- Brussels — through Saturday, October 30, 2021
- Frankfurt — through Saturday, October 30, 2021
- Hannover — through Saturday, October 30, 2021
- Helsinki — through Saturday, October 30, 2021
- Kaliningrad — through Saturday, October 30, 2021
- Kiev — through Wednesday, August 25, 2021
- Kharkov — through Wednesday, August 25, 2021
- London — through Saturday, October 30, 2021
- Lvov — through Wednesday, August 25, 2021
- Milan — through Saturday, October 30, 2021
- Munich — through Saturday, October 30, 2021
- Odessa — through Wednesday, August 25, 2021
- Paris — through Saturday, October 30, 2021
- Prague — through Saturday, October 30, 2021
- Riga — through Friday, June 25, 2021
- Rome — through Saturday, October 30, 2021
- Stockholm — through Saturday, October 30, 2021
- Tallinn — through Saturday, August 28, 2021
- Vienna — through Saturday, October 30, 2021
- Vilnius — through Saturday, June 26, 2021
- Warsaw — through Saturday, October 30, 2021
The Incident Which Prompted The Flight Cancellations
Ryanair flight 4978 was en route from Athens to Vilnius on Sunday, May 23, 2021 when it was diverted east to Minsk with a MiG-29 fighter jet escort shortly before it reached the Lithuanian border due to what was initially called a “bomb threat” — no explosives were ever found aboard the airplane — but the reported reason was to detain Roman Protasevich, who is a former editor of the Nexta group and was a passenger aboard the airplane.
Lukashenka and his regime today showed again its contempt for international community and its citizens. Faking a bomb threat and sending MiG-29s to force @RyanAir to Minsk in order to arrest a @Nexta journalist on politically motivated charges is dangerous and abhorrent.
— Julie Fisher (@USAmbBelarus) May 23, 2021
The diversion was allegedly ordered by the president of Belarus to arrest Protasevich, who has a history of speaking out against the government of Belarus. After several hours on the ground at the airport in Minsk, the airplane was permitted to resume its flight once Protasevich was detained in Minsk and landed safely in Vilnius at 9:25 in the evening local time — which is greater than several hours after its scheduled arrival.
Today’s hijacking of #Ryanair flight by Lukashenko regime shows that Belarusian airspace is not safe, people’s lives were put at risk and kidnaping of a political opponent took place. Belarusian airspace must be closed for all international flights.
— Edgars Rinkēvičs (@edgarsrinkevics) May 23, 2021
As a result of this bizarre incident, airlines have reportedly been avoiding the air space above Belarus until additional details are revealed and appropriate action is taken. The leaders of countries around the world reacted with outrage and accused Belarus of “state terrorism”.
Summary
This travel alert is to inform you of why your flight may be delayed or canceled if your travels take you to, from, or within eastern Europe within the next five months.
In the meantime, please read this trip report of my experience as a passenger for the first time aboard an airplane operated by Belavia Belarusian Airlines — and I still intend to write trip reports pertaining to my experiences in Minsk.
All photographs ©2017 by Brian Cohen.
