MINSK, 21 June (BelTA) – Belarus has no intention of buying long-range aircraft in the current five-year term, BelTA learned from Belarusian Transport and Communications Minister Anatoly Sivak on 21 June.
The official said: “As far as long-range aircraft are concerned, their purchase is being discussed but for now there are no competitive flights that can recoup the investment of buying these aircraft. There are no plans to buy such aircraft in the current five-year term.” Anatoly Sivak noted that Belarus constantly works hard to open new routes. “Every year we plan and open new routes but the process primarily depends on economic advisability,” he stressed.
The minister noted that the development of the Belarusian air transportation industry proceeds rather vigorously. The number of passengers serviced by the Minsk National Airport increases every year. The number of passengers transported by the Belarusian air carrier Belavia rises as well.
Anatoly Sivak presented the bill on ratifying the Belarusian-Pakistani intergovernmental agreement on air service in the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus on 21 June.
Anatoly Sivak said that enabling air service between the two countries was already discussed last year. “We are discussing flights from Pakistan to Minsk and further on to America. A Pakistani air carrier is interested in it but in line with the Pakistani legislation it can be done only after the agreement is ratified by the parties,” explained the transport and communications minister. Anatoly Sivak said that such agreements are signed regularly. “We have 47 agreements like that. The work will continue. It is a continuous process. The more agreements like that we have, the better business terms our air carriers will enjoy,” concluded Anatoly Sivak.
The Belarusian MPs ratified the Belarusian-Pakistani intergovernmental agreement on air service.
