“Belavia” may be sold to Russian “Aeroflot”
A source in the only Belarusian airline has confirmed that negotiations with the Russian side are in process.
Belarusian Minister of Transport Ivan Shcherba has claimed that the airline has been included in the privatization plan and it is not going to be reconsidered. They are only going to buy aircraft to keep working in the air freight market. According to the Minister, “Belavia” will most likely be privatized and sold in 2013.
Russian investors’ offers are being considered now, informs Gazeta.ru referring to a source in the Belarusian airline. The source also draws attention to the fact that Chinese investors have been asked to stop the construction of the runway at the airport Minsk-2 recently. According to the source, it happened because of Russia’s direct pressure.
“Aeroflot” seems to be most interested in air freights in the Belarusian direction now. The airline is ready to enhance its presence in the western direction by displacing the Belarusian rival from the market.
An aviation scandal between Minsk and Moscow started at the end of March. All flights were suspended on April 26 because the sides could not agree on the number of daily flights. The agreement to make 5 flights a day was reached on April 9.
