Belavia Negotiates Acquisition of A330s via Gambia

Belavia, the flag carrier of Belarus, is reportedly in advanced discussions to acquire three A330-200 aircraft stored at Minsk National Airport, under Gambian registrations linked to “Magic Air.” These aircraft were previously involved in the delivery of an A320 to the sanctioned Cham Wings Airlines, according to Reuters. The carrier plans to introduce the A330s into service by Summer 2025, pending successful negotiations.

The three A330s—C5-TAB, C5-TAC, and C5-TAD—were transported from storage facilities at Muscat and Cairo International airports to Minsk National on August 19, 2024. Upon arrival, the aircraft were in a poor condition, requiring extensive maintenance before they can be put into service. These aircraft, built between 2002 and 2003, were originally delivered to Emirates before being transferred to Onur Air in 2017-2018. They were later re-registered in the Cayman Islands but have been inactive since arriving in Minsk.

The potential acquisition of these A330s would mark a significant expansion of Belavia’s fleet, which currently includes only narrow-body jets like Boeing 737s and Embraer E195s. It would also represent the largest addition of new aircraft to the Russian and Belarusian fleets since Western sanctions were imposed in 2022. If confirmed, this deal would strengthen Belavia’s long-haul capabilities, as the airline currently does not operate widebody aircraft in its commercial passenger fleet.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com