MOSCOW, 22 September (BelTA) – Aeroflot – Russian Airlines has confirmed the resumption of flights from Moscow to Minsk on 26 September, BelTA learned from the website of the Russian airline.
“Flights to Belarus – SU1842 Moscow-Minsk and SU1843 Minsk-Moscow – will be operated on Saturdays starting from 26 September,” the message runs. According to the airline, the frequency of flights may change when international air traffic starts resuming.
According to Aeroflot's booking system, the first flight following a hiatus from the end of March, caused by restrictions imposed by Russia due to the spread of the coronavirus infection, will take place from Terminal D of Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport at 15.20 on 26 September. The cost of the cheapest one-way ticket to Minsk without luggage is RUB11,668 - this is more than twice as high as the ticket cost before the pandemic. Aeroflot will fly back from Minsk the same day, at 18.20, with the arrival at Sheremetyevo's Terminal F. The cheapest return ticket without luggage will cost RUB13,429. Next flights to Minsk and back are planned for 3 October. Before the pandemic this Russian airline made about 50 weekly flights to the Belarusian capital.
The resumption of air communication with Belarus became possible after the Russian government adopted the corresponding resolution on 20 September, according to which restrictions on entry into Russia through air checkpoints for citizens of the Republic of Belarus and persons entitled to permanent residence in Belarus were lifted from 21 September. The Belarusian embassy to Russia stressed that on entering Russia Belarusian citizens will have to present a negative result of the test for COVID-19 and self-declaration of health status. “In accordance with Decree No.22 of the Chief State Sanitary Doctor of Russia from 27 July 2020, a mandatory condition for entry to the Russian Federation through the air checkpoint (including transit) is the presence of a medical document confirming the negative result of laboratory testing for COVID-19 by PCR, passed no later than three days before arrival in Russia. The Rospotrebnadzor decree also contains a requirement to fill in a self-declaration of the passenger's health status in connection with COVID-19 for health purposes,” the Belarusian embassy explained.
Restrictions for Belarusian citizens to enter Russia by automobile and rail transport remain in place.
