MINSK, 19 February (BelTA) – The Belavia national air carrier has launched scheduled flights on the route Minsk - Dubai - Minsk, BelTA learned from the airline's website.
Belavia will operate flights from the Belarusian capital to Dubai International Airport (DXB) twice a week: on Thursdays (departure at 19:50) and Fridays (departure at 16:15). Return flights from Dubai to Minsk National Airport will be available on Wednesdays (departure at 3:30) and Fridays (departure at 23:55). The time is local for each airport. A one-way ticket will cost from €216 (no baggage), including taxes and fees, and a round-trip ticket will cost from €375 (no baggage).
The route will be served by Belavia's new Embraer 195-E2. This aircraft can seat 125 passengers: 9 in Business Class and 116 in Economy Class. As the first flight was all booked, Embraer 195-E2 was replaced by a bigger Boeing 737-800 with 189 seats.
The Minsk-Dubai flight will become the longest route in the entire network of Belavia's scheduled flights. Travel time is about six hours.
According to Igor Cherginets, Belavia Director General, the airline has high hopes for 2021. “We are not only gradually resuming popular scheduled flights, but also launching new ones. In 2020, despite all the difficulties, we began operating scheduled flights to Vienna and Tashkent and today we are performing a maiden flight to a new destination, Dubai. Our decision to start flying to Dubai was prompted by a high demand for this destination among travel agencies and passengers and a mutual visa waiver for the citizens of Belarus and the UAE, which makes travel easier and this destination more attractive,” he said.
“The aircraft was booked to 100% of its capacity on the maiden flight from Minsk to Dubai, which attests to the popularity of the new route. Moreover, the company sold 100% of tickets during the first large-scale promo held on 16 February. We hope that direct flights between Minsk and Dubai will help promote inbound tourism and facilitate the cultural exchange,” Igor Cherginets said.
As from 16 January 2021, Belarusian citizens are allowed to enter, leave, and transit through the UAE territory as well as stay in the UAE without a visa (for up to 90 days). The same terms apply to the UAE citizens in the territory of Belarus. “Certain entry restrictions are in place in the UAE. Passengers are highly recommended to familiarize themselves with the entry rules before purchasing tickets,” Belavia says.
