A few weeks ago, news resurfaced in some media outlets that the launch of regular Conviasa flights between Havana and Minsk was imminent, as a stopover for the service that then continues to Tehran. This was allegedly stated by Vyacheslav Horonekola, director of the airport in the capital of Belarus, to a local channel.

Aviacionline got in touch with the press office of the «National Airport of Minsk» to elaborate on the topic. They confirmed that negotiations with Conviasa have been ongoing since February 2022 but clarified that «At the moment, it is premature to talk about the opening of flights from Minsk to Venezuela with a transfer in Cuba, because these are long-term plans».

«Mass media sent this information as if the flight would be imminent. In fact, this flight is too early to announce», they continued.

From the airport, it was indicated that there are «many challenges, which depend on the authorities of Venezuela, Belarus and Cuba», but they are already interested in establishing more long-haul flights and continue working in that direction.

They also stated that Belavia, the national airline, has reorganized its flights between Minsk and Moscow to offer convenient connections in the Russian capital with the Conviasa flights that operate the Moscow – Porlamar – Caracas and Moscow – Havana – Caracas routes.

Flights in Minsk

Following the case of the forced diversion of flight FR4978 of Ryanair to Minsk while it was operating between Athens and Vilnius in May 2021 to detain a journalist and activist opposing President Aleksandr Lukashenko, Belarus’ international air connectivity with Western Europe has gradually declined, receiving another blow after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2023.

This was the network of destinations that could be reached from Minsk in January 2021.

While this is the one in July 2023:

Currently, Belavia is responsible for 78.3% of the capacity offered in Minsk, followed by Aeroflot with 13.2% and Ural Airlines with 4.3%.

Conviasa Flights

The current Conviasa network is as follows:

• Caracas – Havana: five flights per week.
• Caracas – Santa Cruz de la Sierra: two flights per week.
• Caracas – Cancun: three flights per week.
• Caracas – Moscow: one flight every two weeks.
• Caracas – Lima: one flight every two weeks.
• Caracas – Mexico/AIFA: one flight every two weeks.
• Caracas – Kingstown: one flight every two weeks.
• Caracas – Tehran: one flight every two weeks.
• Caracas – Damascus: one flight every two weeks.
• Puerto Ordaz – Manaus: one flight per week.
• Managua – Havana: four flights per week.
• Havana – Moscow: one flight every two weeks.