The EU Commission intends to prohibit leasing companies based in the European Union from leasing aircraft to Belavia in Belarus. The aim is to ensure that fewer refugees can be flown to Minsk.
Future deliveries that are obtained from EU Lessors would also be affected. If the European Union plan were implemented, Belavia would no longer be able to use around half of the fleet. An Irish lessor recently asked the flying out of three Embraer 195-E2s.
The Irish Foreign Minister Simon Conveny told the TV station RTE among other things: "These aircraft now either have to be returned or I assume that there will be legal steps". Belavia leases numerous machines in the Irish AerCap. Nordic Aviation Capital has also leased some aircraft to the Belarusian state carrier.