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Belavia signs agreement on purchase of three Boeing aircraft

Belarus' national airline Belavia on June 26 signed an agreement on the purchase of three Boeing 737-800 Next Generation planes.

According to Belavia Director General Anatol Husaraw, talks with the Boeing Company were rather long and difficult, and although the planes were initially priced at $272 million, the two companies managed to agree on certain discounts during the talks.

Belavia will have to take loans from the Development Bank of Belarus and several foreign banks, perhaps even the US Eximbank, to pay for the planes, Mr. Husaraw said.

Although the planes are expected to be delivered in 2017, Belavia has asked the Boeing Company to deliver them as soon as possible, Mr. Husaraw noted.

"The purchase of three Boeing 737-800 NG planes will make it possible to launch new regular flights to destinations where Belavia cannot fly at present because they are too far from the host airport," Mr. Husaraw said, adding that the new planes would also replace Russia's Tu-154Ms.

Boeing welcomes Belavia's choice of its 737-800 Next Generation planes notable for their upgraded engines, reliability and a high level of comfort, said Martin Bentrott, Boeing's vice president responsible for the company's sales in the Middle East, Central Asia and India.

He expressed hope that the agreement would strengthen relations between the Boeing Company and Belavia for many years in the future.

Founded in March 1996 and headquartered at Minsk National Airport, Belavia operates regular passenger flights to 43 destinations in 28 countries.

The airline currently uses 22 aircraft, including six Boeing 737-500s, seven Boeing 737-300s, two Embraer-175s, four CRJ 100/200s and three Tu-154Ms. //BelaPAN