United States further sanctions Belarus's national air carrier for violations

Robert Besser
19 Jun 2022, 06:59 GMT+10

The U.S. Commerce Department has increased export controls on Belarus' national airline, Belavia
According to a Commerce Department order issued against Belavia, companies around the world are now prohibited from maintaining, repairing and using U.S. parts or equipment to service the airline's fleet
Minsk-based Belavia violated U.S. regulations by flying Boeing aircraft after 8th April to and from Russia, Turkey, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Georgia, the UAE and Egypt

WASHINGTON D.C.: The U.S. Commerce Department has increased export controls on Belarus' national airline, Belavia, for violating restrictions issued after Russia's invasion of Ukraine by operating flights using Boeing aircraft.

According to a Commerce Department order issued against Belavia, companies around the world are now prohibited from maintaining, repairing and using U.S. parts or equipment to service the airline's fleet.

Minsk-based Belavia violated U.S. regulations by flying Boeing aircraft after 8th April to and from Russia, Turkey, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Georgia, the UAE and Egypt, the department added.

Washington restricted flights on Belarusian operated aircraft manufactured in the U.S. or made in a foreign country if the aircraft had more than 25 percent U.S. parts.

"Just as Belarus is lawlessly supporting Russia's unjust war in Ukraine, its national airline Belavia is failing to obey our export laws," said Matthew Axelrod, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement.

The order "will prevent Belavia from leveraging any U.S. technology to operate its fleet of airplanes, thus making it more difficult for the airline to keep flying," he added.

Officials said the order affects both the Boeing and Embraer aircraft in Belavia's fleet, if they need U.S. parts or services.

After identifying Boeing airplanes that were operating in violation of U.S. sanctions, similar actions were taken against major Russian airlines, including Aeroflot, Aviastar, Azur Air, Rossiya and Utair.