Muscat: Belavia Airlines, the national airline of Belarus, will start its first tourist flights to Salalah Airport from the Belarusian capital, Minsk, next Thursday.

This comes after the Civil Aviation Authority issued its approval for the operation, reflecting the authorities’ commitment to boosting the tourism sector in Oman.

The Civil Aviation Authority announced that the initial phase of Belavia Airlines’ operations to Salalah Airport will include four tourist flights until late March 2025, using a Boeing B737-800 aircraft with a capacity of 189 seats.

The authority also noted that the airline is expected to continue its operations to Salalah Airport during the upcoming summer season in 2026, bringing the total number of flights in the first and second phases of operation to 16 tourist flights.

Dr. Abdullah bin Masoud Al Harthi, Honorary Consul of Belarus in Oman, emphasised that the launch of direct flights between Oman and Belarus is the result of dedicated efforts to strengthen bilateral relations between the two friendly countries.

This development follows the official visit of the President of Belarus to Oman, which contributed to advancing mutual cooperation and identifying strategic sectors for deepening partnership, such as clean energy, tourism, education, healthcare, technology, transport, and logistics.

He added that these direct flights will significantly promote Oman’s tourism potential, particularly in the Dhofar Governorate, and enhance commercial and investment activities between the two countries.

He highlighted that Belarusian citizens have been exempted from visa requirements to enter Oman for up to 14 days, aiming to facilitate the movement of individuals and boost tourism and economic exchanges.

Furthermore, the Honorary Consul mentioned that additional flights linking Muscat to Minsk are being planned, which will further enhance cooperation, open new avenues for investment and trade, and leverage the growing relationship to drive economic development for both countries.

He also pointed out the promising opportunities in agriculture, industry, technology, and food security sectors, forming a solid foundation for establishing strategic partnerships that achieve mutual interests.

He praised the efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in facilitating procedures and supporting initiatives that strengthen cooperation between Oman and Belarus.

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