By Redaction ARPS Media
Belavia, the national airline of Belarus, acquired three Airbus A330-200 aircraft despite Western sanctions.
The planes were initially owned by Emirates and sold to a Gambian company, Magic Air, which served as a front.
Reports in August 2024 indicated that the aircraft were sold to an unknown buyer in the UAE but were secretly flown to Minsk and re-registered under the name Belavia.
Due to sanctions, Belavia faced a loss of larger aircraft and had to use smaller, unsuitable planes for long-distance flights.
The acquisition exploited Gambia’s legal framework, which doesn’t enforce the sanctions and involved the use of false documents, demonstrating difficulties in enforcing international sanctions.
Read the full article: Sanctioned Belavia Acquires A330s Smuggled By Fake Gambian Airline
