Iran Mulls Establishing Direct Flights with Belarus & Resuming Flights to Austria

High-ranking Iranian and Belarussian officials discussed ways to establish direct flights between Tehran and Minsk. The issue was raised in a meeting between Iranian Ambassador to Belarus Saeed Yari and managing-director of the country's National Airline 'Belavia' on Wednesday. During the meeting, Yari announced his readiness to negotiate removal of existing obstacles, help establish a direct flight from Tehran to Minsk as a very important factor to develop people-to-people communications, tourism, cultural exchanges and economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. The two sides also stressed the need for preparatory actions by the two countries' aviation and airport officials as soon as possible. Direct flights of Belavia Airlines from Minsk to Tehran were operated for 8 years from 2010 to 2018, but the flight was canceled as of 2018 due to some technical issues.

In relevant remarks in July, Iranian First Vice President Eshagh Jahangiri in a message to Belarus Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko underlined his country's interest in the further bolstering of ties and cooperation with Minsk in all fields. He called for widening of mutual cooperation in various areas, including politics and economy. Iran's first vice president expressed the hope that the joint efforts made by both countries and by taking advantage of all capacities, friendly relations would be developed.

Also, Iran and Austria have reviewed the conditions for reviving the direct flights between the two countries which have been facing major slump after the coronavirus pandemic. Iran's Ambassador to Austria Abbas Bagherpour Ardakani, in a tweet on Tuesday, said he had a “cordial and fruitful” meeting with Alexis von Hoensbroech, the chief executive of Austrian Airlines, to explore the avenues for resuming the Austrian airline’s direct flights to Iran. Austrian Airlines has had flights to Iran since 1984. Currently, Iran Air, the country’s flag carrier airline, operates direct flights to Austria every Saturday. - Mehr, Fars