The national airline of Belarus, Belavia, announced on Monday that it was discontinuing flights to Tel Aviv following a decision by the Israel Airports Authority to refuse to service its aircraft.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
The airline said it was forced to cancel all scheduled flights to Israel until the end of the summer season.
Passengers who have already purchased tickets from Minsk to Tel Aviv will be given a full refund, Belavia added.
Belavia had been operating regular flights from Minsk to Tel Aviv since 1996. The airline said on its website that the route has always been in high demand because of "family bonds, the popularity of Israel[i] resorts, medical tourism and a wide range of health opportunities."
"We regret that the planned meetings of relatives will not happen, the citizens of Israel will not be able to fly to Belarus and spend a hot summer in a milder climate, and the citizens of Belarus will not be able to improve their health at the resorts of the Red and the Dead Seas," said Belavia CEO Igor Cherginets.
Israeli aviation officials said there is nothing preventing foreign airlines, including Belavia, from flying to Israel, and that the decision not to service Belavia aircraft was made by the ground handling provider at Ben Gurion airport due to fears of American sanctions over Belarusian support for Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
