Belarus’ state-owned airline, Belavia, is set to add three Airbus A330 aircraft to its fleet after acquiring planes previously registered under Gambian airline Magic Air, sources told Reuters. The move comes as Belarus and its ally Russia struggle with aircraft shortages due to Western sanctions.
The three wide-body jets, each capable of carrying around 250 passengers, arrived in Minsk on August 17, 2024, and were removed from The Gambia’s aircraft registry two days later. Gambia’s Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) confirmed the sale to a United Arab Emirates (UAE) buyer, but details remain unclear.
Belavia, which currently operates only Boeing aircraft, has faced challenges integrating the Airbus planes, as they arrived in poor technical condition and require pilot retraining. However, sources say the airline aims to deploy them for the spring-summer travel season.
Western sanctions imposed on Belarus and Russia have severely restricted access to aircraft parts and services, making it difficult for their airlines to maintain operations. The acquisition of Gambian-registered planes may offer a potential loophole for Russian aviation, which is also struggling with fleet shortages.
The European Union banned Belarusian airlines from its airspace in 2021 after authorities forced a Ryanair flight carrying a dissident journalist to land in Minsk. Meanwhile, U.S. and European sanctions continue to limit Russia’s aviation sector, delaying the production of domestic aircraft.
Magic Air, the little-known Gambian airline that previously owned the planes, has no online presence and is linked to Jordanian businessman Tareq Ziad Abdel Hamid Al Ajami. One of its former aircraft was transferred to Syria’s Cham Wings Airlines, which is under EU sanctions for ties to Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Despite the controversy, Belavia is moving forward with its expansion, with plans to repaint the aircraft in its colors and put them into service soon.
