Belarus Airspace: Closed Or Open For Business?

Belarus has partially closed its airspace since February 2022, with the restrictions relating to altitudes of 0 to 19,800 meters. This decision was made by the Belarusian authorities to ensure the security of its airspace. The restrictions were implemented following a dramatic escalation in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with Russia recognising the sovereignty of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics. The US, Canada, Italy, Germany, France, and the UK have since banned their operators from entering Belarusian airspace, with other countries also issuing warnings. These warnings are due to the primary risk of unintended targeting of civil aircraft by the military near the Belarus-Ukraine border.

The US, Canada, and other countries have banned their operators from entering Belarus's airspace

Belarus has restricted access to its airspace since 2021, when it forced a Ryanair plane to land in Minsk. This incident, which was politically motivated, sparked international outrage and resulted in sanctions against Belarus. The country's airspace restrictions have continued due to the ongoing conflict in neighbouring Ukraine.

In February 2022, Belarus closed sections of its airspace near its FIR boundaries with Ukraine. This was done in coordination with Russia, which also closed off parts of its airspace near Ukraine. The primary risk to civil aircraft identified by aviation authorities is the potential for unintended targeting by the military near the Belarus-Ukraine border.

In response to these airspace closures and the associated risks, the US and Canada have issued outright bans on their operators from entering Belarusian airspace. Several other countries, including Italy, Germany, and France, have also issued warnings and placed restrictions on their operators from entering the airspace near the Belarus-Ukraine border. These countries are taking measures to protect their civil aircraft from potential military threats and confusion in the region.

The US ban prohibits all US air carriers, commercial operators, and operators of civil aircraft registered in the country from entering the Minsk Flight Information Region (FIR). Similarly, Canadian operators and owners of Canadian-registered aircraft are prohibited from entering the Minsk FIR due to potential risks from anti-aviation weaponry and military operations.

These measures by the US, Canada, and other countries demonstrate their commitment to ensuring the safety of their aircraft and citizens while navigating the complex and dangerous situation in Eastern Europe.

Belarus's airspace was partially closed in February 2022

Belarus partially closed its airspace in February 2022, restricting altitudes from 0 to 19,800 meters. The decision was announced by the Belarusian Defense Ministry on February 24, 2022, and was implemented to ensure the security of the country's airspace. The closure affected civil aircraft flights along the border between Belarus and Ukraine, specifically in the areas surrounding the cities of Vysokoye, Baranovichi, Osipovichi, and Krichev.

This partial closure of Belarusian airspace followed a series of events that heightened tensions in the region. In May 2021, a Ryanair flight was diverted to Minsk, Belarus, due to a reported bomb threat. However, the incident was later revealed to be a "deliberately false" flag by Belarusian air traffic controllers, leading to international outrage and sanctions against Belarus. Additionally, Russia's recognition of the sovereignty of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics in February 2022 escalated tensions in the Donbass region.

The partial closure of Belarusian airspace had significant implications for commercial and military aviation. The vast majority of airlines, including all European Union carriers, had already been avoiding Belarusian airspace due to safety concerns and political tensions. This decision further restricted transit traffic, allowing only aircraft arriving at or departing from specific airports in Minsk, Brest, and Gomel. Military traffic was also permitted within the restricted zone.

The closure of Belarusian airspace was implemented to ensure the security and safety of civil aircraft. However, it is important to note that Belarus was not the only country to restrict its airspace during this period. Ukraine closed its entire airspace to all civil traffic in February 2022 due to the ongoing conflict with Russia. Additionally, Russia, Belarus, and Moldova closed large sections of their airspace near their FIR boundaries with Ukraine. These closures aimed to mitigate the risk of unintended targeting of civil aircraft by military forces near the Belarus-Ukraine and Russia-Ukraine borders.

The partial closure of Belarusian airspace in February 2022 had significant impacts on aviation in the region. It restricted commercial and military flights, contributing to the volatile security environment caused by the conflict in neighboring Ukraine. The decision also reflected the ongoing political tensions and safety concerns surrounding Belarusian airspace.

Belarus restricted airspace over Minsk in July 2022

Belarus has restricted its airspace over Minsk and the area extending south towards the Ukrainian border, including the cities of Gomel in the east and Brest in the west. The restriction was announced on July 11, 2022, and was in place until July 14, 2022. During this time, no commercial transit traffic was allowed in the zone, except for aircraft arriving at or departing from Minsk National, Brest, and Gomel airports. Military traffic was also permitted.

This restriction had a minimal impact on commercial traffic as most airlines, including all European Union carriers, had already been avoiding Belarusian airspace since May 2021, following the forced landing of a Ryanair flight bound for Lithuania in Minsk. This incident, which was politically motivated, raised concerns about the safety of Belarusian airspace and led to calls for airlines to avoid the country's airspace.

The United States, Canada, and several European countries have issued warnings or outright bans on their operators from entering Belarusian airspace due to the potential risks associated with the ongoing conflict in neighbouring Ukraine. The primary concern is the unintended targeting of civil aircraft by military forces near the Belarus-Ukraine border.

In addition to the temporary restriction in July 2022, Belarus also closed its airspace adjacent to the Ukrainian border from early July 2022 through early October 2022.

The EU sanctioned Belarus's airspace regulator after the Ryanair plane diversion in 2021

Belarus has restricted airspace over Minsk and the south of the country, including the cities of Gomel and Brest. This restriction is in place until July 14, 2022, and only permits military traffic and flights arriving at or departing from Minsk National, Brest, and Gomel airports.

This follows the May 2021 incident in which a Ryanair plane travelling from Athens, Greece, to Vilnius, Lithuania, was diverted to Minsk National Airport due to a false bomb threat. The Belarusian government claimed that an email had been received from Hamas soldiers, threatening to blow up the plane over Vilnius unless their demands were met. However, journalists later discovered that the email had been received after Belarusian ATC notified the flight of the bomb threat.

The diversion of the Ryanair plane sparked international outrage, with EU officials characterising the incident as a hijacking and US prosecutors charging four Belarusian officials with aircraft piracy. The EU held a meeting on May 24, 2021, in which it was agreed to prohibit EU-based airlines from flying through Belarusian airspace and to ban Belarusian carriers from flying into EU airspace. The EU also imposed sanctions on Belarus' airspace regulator, Belaeronavigatsia, which a court ruled had contributed to the "repression of civil society and democratic opposition in Belarus". The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) investigated the incident and found that the bomb threat was "deliberately false".

In response to the EU sanctions, Belarus was accused by EU states of instigating the Belarus-EU border crisis. The head of the Department of Aviation at the Belarusian Ministry of Transport and Communications, Artem Sikorsky, claimed that the sanctions cost the country about $10 million per month in lost opportunities.

The security environment in Belarus is volatile and could deteriorate at short notice

The security environment in Belarus is highly volatile and could deteriorate rapidly. The country's airspace has been partially closed since February 2022, with large sections near the Ukrainian border restricted to civil aircraft. This is due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has resulted in the US, Canada, and several European countries banning their operators from entering Belarusian airspace. The primary risk to civil aircraft is the potential for unintended targeting by the military near the Belarus-Ukraine border.

In addition to the volatile security situation caused by the war in neighbouring Ukraine, Belarus's security environment is further exacerbated by Russia's military presence along the Belarus-Ukraine border and the arbitrary enforcement of laws by Belarusian authorities. Russia is conducting military operations from Belarus, which has heightened tensions in the region. The presence of Russian troops and weaponry poses a significant risk to civilian flights and increases the potential for conflict spillover from Ukraine.

The situation in Belarus is made even more precarious by the country's restrictive laws and their arbitrary enforcement. Belarus imposes harsh penalties for vaguely defined offences such as 'terrorism propaganda' and 'discrediting' the government, security forces, and military organisations. These offences carry severe punishments, including the death penalty for 'high treason'. The broad interpretation and enforcement of these laws create an unpredictable environment where individuals may be detained or punished without warning.

Furthermore, Belarus's history of intercepting and diverting international flights adds to the volatile security environment. In May 2021, a Ryanair flight en route to Vilnius was forced to land in Minsk due to a false bomb threat. This incident, deemed a "state-orchestrated hijacking," sparked international outrage and resulted in sanctions against Belarus's airspace regulator. The European Union's General Court ruled that the diversion contributed to the "repression of civil society and democratic opposition in Belarus."

The combination of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Russia's military presence, arbitrary law enforcement, and past incidents of forced landings makes the security environment in Belarus highly volatile and susceptible to rapid deterioration.

Frequently asked questions