After a pause spanning over three and a half years, Belavia, the national airline of Belarus, has announced its triumphant return to the Israeli aviation map. This move comes just two days after Israeli carrier Arkia declared its own intentions to launch a new route between Tel Aviv and Minsk. Belavia’s decision to resume its flights to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) signals a significant renewal of competition and connectivity for a destination that has been largely off the radar since 2022. The route was initially suspended in May 2022, shortly after the outbreak of the war in Eastern Europe, and its reinstatement is part of Belavia’s strategic effort to rebuild its international network.

The relaunch of the Tel Aviv-Minsk route is scheduled to commence on January 7, 2026. Historically, the connection operated on a daily basis for many years, but the renewed service will initially feature a bi-weekly schedule, with flights operating every Thursday and Sunday. The airline will deploy modern Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft for this service. The planned flight schedule sees the Minsk to Tel Aviv leg departing at 7:10 AM and landing at 12:20 PM, while the return flight from Tel Aviv to Minsk takes off at 1:15 PM and arrives at the destination at 8:40 PM.

Belavia is introducing four distinct service classes on the Israeli route: Light, Smart, Flex, and Business, catering to various traveler needs from the budget-conscious to those seeking premium comfort. For years, the Minsk route was one of the most stable and vital connections in Belavia’s network, serving as a key gateway for Israeli travelers to Belarus and connecting routes, including onward travel to Ukraine. The suspension of operations at the start of the conflict interrupted a long tradition of reliable connectivity between the two nations, and the industry views this re-entry as a positive sign of stabilizing aerial realities in Eastern Europe.

The simultaneous return of Belavia and the entry of Arkia fundamentally alters a market that has been without competition since 2022, effectively placing Minsk back into consideration as a potential destination for tourism, business, and connecting flights. For Belavia, which has faced significant operational challenges due to airspace restrictions and sanctions, the Israeli market is deemed of paramount strategic importance. This is due to the high volume of visitors, active business ties, and Ben Gurion Airport’s central role as a regional passenger hub, making the return a major step in the ongoing reconstruction of the carrier’s route map.