U.S. Grants Sanctions Exemption to Belarus’ Belavia

The U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has issued a general license exempting Belarusian flag carrier Belavia from certain sanctions linked to Belarus’ support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Announced on September 11, 2025, the license does not remove Belavia or its aircraft from the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list but allows all transactions not prohibited by other sanctions frameworks with the airline and its subsidiaries.

The move follows Belarus’ decision to release 52 political prisoners. According to U.S. Presidential Envoy John Coale, President Donald Trump personally ordered the exemption during discussions with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

Belavia was first hit by U.S. export restrictions in 2022, which escalated to full-scale sanctions in 2023 targeting Belarusian state-owned companies. The European Union had already blacklisted the carrier in 2021, and EU sanctions remain in force, meaning Belavia is still banned from European airspace despite the U.S. reprieve.

The OFAC exemption will enable Belavia to legally source aircraft and spare parts from U.S.-related entities, a critical shift for its operations. Even under sanctions, the airline managed to acquire three second-hand Airbus A330-200s earlier this year, underscoring its efforts to maintain long-haul capability.

Industry analysts say the partial lifting of restrictions could ease Belavia’s maintenance and fleet renewal challenges while signaling a potential opening in U.S.-Belarus relations. However, the carrier remains constrained by EU bans and the political risks tied to Belarus’ close alignment with Russia, including their customs union and abolished border checks.

Related News: https://airguide.info/category/air-travel-business/airline-finance/

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