NUMBER OF AIRLINES OPERATING TRANSIT FLIGHTS VIA BELARUS RISES FIVE TIMES
National Legal Internet Portal
13/08/2009 06:01 PM
Minsk
MINSK, 13 August (BelTA) – In the recent years the number of air
companies operating transit flights via Belarus has soared five times,
BelTA learnt from director of the aviation department of the Ministry
of Transport and Communications of Belarus Vadim Melnik.
"The transit flow in Belarus is not as heavy as in the major
international airports. The transit flights via Belarus were launched
in large part due to Belavia. There are transit flights from Baku,
Yerevan, Tbilisi via Minsk to Prague and Frankfurt. Apart from that,
Belavia operates joint flights with other air carriers which number
has grown from four to over 20," Vadim Melnik said.
"Of course, it is hard to compete with such companies as Lufthansa,
Czech Airlines and Austrian Airlines, but this competition encourages
us to improve our technologies and services (by introducing more
convenient schedules and connecting flights), Belavia Director General
Anatoly Gusarov said. "Some flights are operated by Belavia alone,
but there are destinations where Belavia faces a tough competition
with other air companies. However, we are seeking partnership with
them. This cooperation helps pull the prices down and save time for
passengers," he said. The cooperation with such companies as LOT,
Aeroflot and Israeli EL-Al enables Belavia to provide an excellent
level of customer service.
Talking about the transit zone in the National Airport Minsk, Vadim
Melnik said that it requires modernization and expansion. "We are
considering it. This issue has been taken to the Council of Ministers
and the Ministry of Transport and Communications. We want to expand
transit lounges as there is a real need for that. However before we
start, we have to make sure that we can afford it as it will require
considerable resources," he added.