Etihad to land in Minsk on August 5

Dubai: Etihad Airways will become the first airline from the Gulf region to fly to Belarus when the Abu Dhabi-based carrier launches its twice weekly flights to the country's capital, Minsk on August 5.

The new air link is anticipated to boost significantly the trade links and investment ties between the UAE and Belarus with the volume of trade between the two countries standing at more than $30-$40 million (Dh110-Dh150 million) per year.

It also follows talks held in Abu Dhabi last year between President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and President Alexander Luka-shenko of Belarus.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways chief executive, said: "To make history as the first airline from the Gulf region to fly to Belarus is a great honour for Etihad Airways. We are extremely excited at the prospect of helping to strengthen further the trade ties between the two countries through the launch of our new Minsk service."

The announcement of the launch date coincides with a planned visit to Belarus by a high-level delegation of business leaders from the UAE to examine opportunities for trade and investment between the two countries.

Etihad will serve Minsk with one of its new Airbus A319 aircraft every Tuesday and Thursday with a third weekly flight will be added every Saturday from October. The A319 is configured to carry 104 passengers with 20 in business class and 84 in economy class.

Frequencies

Flight EY061 will depart Abu Dhabi on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9.45am and arrive in Minsk at 2.25pm the same day. The return flight, EY062, will depart Minsk on the same days at 3.15pm, arriving in Abu Dhabi at 9.40pm.

Belarus borders Russia to the north and east, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the north. Minsk is the largest city, with a population of 1.8 million.

Minsk is the country's major industrial centre with more than 250 factories and manufacturing plants.