When two are fighting, the third stands a chance to gain profit. Suspending direct flights between Ukraine and Russia has turned Minsk Airport into a new transit centre for Ukrainians.
In 2016, a passenger flow through third countries from Russia to Ukraine has increased by 26% compared with that of last year. Over 55% of passengers make a change in Minsk, 25% – in Warsaw and Chisinau, 7% – in Riga.
Ukraine’s air carrier UIA which also offers flights to Kyiv via Minsk accounts for 12% of the transit passenger flow. However, due to the necessity of stopovers in Minsk, Riga and other cities, the price for flights have been 74 % up. The importance of Minsk Airport has apparently risen after a number of flights from Minsk to Ukrainian cities increased manifoldly. Belavia, the Belarusian national aviation company, has become the main carrier on the transit route Ukraine – Belarus – Russia: more than 50% of the flights concerned accrues to it.
