MINSK, 15 November (BelTA) – Nationals of Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan will not be allowed to board flights to Belarus from Dubai, BelTA has learned from the website of the Belarusian air carrier Belavia.
“Following the decision of the UAE authorities, as from 14 November 2021 Belavia stopped allowing citizens of Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, and Syria to board flights from Dubai to Minsk. The air company has also strengthened documents verification during check-in for flights from Dubai. Passengers subject to this ban can refund their tickets at the place of purchase,” Belavia said on its website.
Belavia started operating regular flights from Minsk to Dubai in February 2021. During the summer period (the ‘low season' in Dubai), Belavia operated three flights per week. Due to an increased demand from Belarusian travel operators that sell tickets as part of packages to Belarusian citizens, the company increased the frequency to five flights per week in October 2021. Thus, most of the seats on flights to/from Dubai were sold to Belarusian travel operators. The number of tickets where Dubai was the place of departure was insignificant. Visitors and participants of EXPO 2020 in Dubai also use this flight.
Belavia airline emphasizes that for many years it has not operated regular or charter flights to Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Syria and has never facilitated the transportation of illegal migrants to the Republic of Belarus. Due to the increased media attention to this topic, the airline has strengthened control over the compliance with all visa requirements and migration legislation of the Republic of Belarus and foreign countries on all its flights.
