Andrew Milligan sumo via Flickr, Departures Hall of Minsk International AirportThe US Department of Transportation has tentatively banned the sale of passenger planes between the US, Belarus. This is in response to a request by the US Department of State. It also follows the Ryanair flight 4978 that took place on May 23, 2021.This Order by the U.S. Department of Transportation (the Department), has tentatively decided that passenger air transport between the United States of America and Belarus will be prohibited.This move follows a request from Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigg for the same day. Blinken stated that it was in the United States' foreign policy interests to restrict transportation between the United States of America and Belarus, pending the outcome of an investigation by the International Civil Aviation Organization.The tentative order allows interested parties to object within two business days. The Department notes that if objections are timely filed and supported, the Department will take full consideration of those issues before taking any further action.This US decision comes four weeks after European regulators banned the operation of planes in the country where EASA issued the operating certificate.Only a few hours have passed since the last @EASA update on Belarus, but the agency has stepped up its position again.This evening, the SD prohibits operation in Minsk FIR. EASA has issued an Air Operators Certificate and acts as the Competent Authority.The EASA's actions were opposed by the IATA, an international airline lobbying organization. Director General Willie Walsh stated, "Two wrongs don't make a right." Politicians should not interfere with safe operation of aircraft. Furthermore, politicians should not use aviation safety to cover for their political or diplomatic agendas.
