MINSK, 15 July (BelTA) – The Belarusian air carrier Belavia and leasing companies are working on a scheme of financial compensation for the losses the company has incurred due to delays in the delivery of two Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, BelTA learned from Belavia Director General Anatoly Gusarov on 15 July.
The executive said: “We are working out a financial compensation scheme with leasing companies. We hope it will be triggered soon.”
In his words, the lack of the two aircraft the company was supposed to get in May and June 2019 has resulted in additional complications with planning flights, particularly charter programs in the summer period. The air carrier expects compensation. “Apart from that, we've incurred losses by spending a lot of money on personnel training, on the ground infrastructure for operating these aircraft and the money doesn't work now,” the Belavia director general said.
Anatoly Gusarov noted that the matter of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft is a painful one for Belavia. In particular, due to the lack of aircraft of this class the development of flights in the eastern direction is slow. “We are very interested in flights in the eastern sector, possibly China and India. But we are stuck due to the lack of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft,” Belavia's director general said.
Belavia was supposed to get two Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in May and June 2019. However, the deadlines were missed. Due to two plane crashes of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft over the course of five months many countries and air carriers suspended flights of these aircraft. Boeing Company suspended shipments as well.
Belavia is Belarus' biggest air carrier. Based in the Minsk National Airport, it offers regular flights to 55 destinations in 29 countries. The company operates a fleet of 30 aircraft (seven Boeing 737-800 jets, six Boeing 737-500 jets, five Boeing 737-300 jets, four Embraer 175 aircraft, six Embraers 195 and two CRJ-200 jets).
