New Belavia plane. The long-awaited Belavia plane

The national air carrier from Belarus knows how to surprise! In Minsk, the new Embraer-175 in a “cornflower blue” livery, which arrived from a factory in Brazil, was given a bright welcome. This is the first of three new aircraft from the Brazilian manufacturer this year; in May and June Balavia will welcome new Embraer-195s, and next year five more (!) aircraft straight from the factory! Plans to expand and update the airline’s fleet are not limited to this - in May 2018 it is planned to sign an agreement for the supply of Boeing 737 MAX-8, approximately in 2020.

But let's get back to the brand new Embraer-175! Why do you and I love Embraer so much?! Because it doesn't have a middle seat! Layout in economy 2-2. But the main thing is the pitch of the seats, I have not yet seen an Embraer where the pitch was too small, it is always comfortable to sit on all carriers. And the chairs themselves are very wide, more than 18.5 inches wide! Of course, the luggage racks are not the most spacious, but a standard suitcase of appropriate sizes hand luggage fits perfectly into the luggage rack above your seat. A very important point is a comfortable standard (!) business class in a 2-1 configuration with wide seats and increased seat pitch, especially in light of the trend of installing a “European” business class with a regular blocked adjacent seat on most other carriers.

A bright and sunny regional aircraft in a two-class configuration with 76 seats (64 - economy, 12 - business) flew from Brazil to Minsk with three stops - in Recife (Brazil) on the island of Sal in the Atlantic and in Alicante (Spain), during the third stop the crew was resting. Among the unusual points - pay attention to the configuration of the winglets, this is their new modification.

Belavia surprises again and again! Two years ago they introduced a bright and bold new livery featuring one of the national symbols of Belarus - the cornflower. This livery is truly "eye catching" at any airport, I always have my hand reaching for the camera :) Then the airline surprised us with a "tanker" - a Boeing 737 in the livery of the most popular game from Belarus - "World of Tanks". And now, today, the meeting of the new Embraer-175! Firstly, the aircraft was escorted from the runway to the hangar by three BMW safety cars; this was very unusual. And secondly, in the hangar itself the new aircraft was presented with spectacular light mapping, the idea is not new, but it always looks very cool.

However, see for yourself in my report today!

And for me it is also a wonderful meeting with many friends and acquaintances:) Marina, Yura, Dragan from Serbia, Dima and Dima from Moscow and many others.

The second runway is being built in Minsk:

Balavia is waiting for you and me on board!
Let's fly more often, friends!

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They waited for him for a long time. And not only him. Together with him, new directions, a new era, a new stage of development come to the company. A brand new Boeing 737-800NG in a new livery will be the first step in the rebranding of the Belavia airline.

The idea and image of the livery were carefully hidden, sometimes, however, lifting the veil of secrecy a little, as for example, in the livery of the newly arrived Boeing 737-300 “tanker” with elements of the game “World of Tanks” on board one of the elements could be seen, but all was denied - wait for the official presentation, and you will find out everything. But to hide something big from the ubiquitous aviation enthusiasts, for example, an airplane, and even more so an airplane in a new livery, which, moreover, was painted at the factory and flew there for testing, was caught in the lenses and posted on the Internet. Representatives of Belavia could no longer maintain the intrigue and invited representatives of the media, as well as aviation enthusiasts, to Minsk for a ceremonial meeting of the new board.

So, let's meet! New livery of Belavia airline!

On August 15, 2016, it received the first of three new Boeing 737-800 ordered in 2014. The other two will arrive in Minsk in October and December of this year. What will this give passengers first of all?

According to the representative of the airline, Igor Cherginets, this means higher reliability for passengers, and therefore safety. And this is the most important priority in aviation.

Punctuality will increase. The level of flight comfort will increase. Enlarged luggage racks for hand luggage. Ergonomic passenger seats. New technologies have been used in the interior of the aircraft (Boeing Sky Interior), which makes night flights comfortable thanks to special changing cabin lighting.

Thanks to these aircraft, the airline hopes to reduce operating costs for flights, which will certainly entail lower ticket prices for passengers. This should apply to both regular and charter flights (which means the cost of tours will also decrease). The new Boeing 737-800 is much more efficient than the previous generation aircraft.

Belavia will continue to try to acquire new equipment. This is unconditionally beneficial for both the passenger and the airline. They were convinced of this when they took on the new Embraer 175 and Embraer 195. Of course, if the airline had such funds or could use cheap credit resources, then Belavia would be more actively involved in updating its fleet.

With the arrival of new Boeings, the three most beloved and respected by all without exception will go down in history - the Tupolev Tu -154. This will be their last year flying with this airline.

But we must pay tribute - the company respects these magnificent and wonderful machines, allowing everyone to finally touch this legend once again by organizing the “Flight for the sake of flight” event, which will take place on October 1 this year.

But let's go back to the current moment and see how the new plane was greeted at the Minsk National Airport. Of course, there would not be a welcome water arch, which greets and sees off new planes and flights.

While everyone was waiting for the plane, we took pictures of the apron

After the aircraft arrives, it immediately begins to be serviced in order to then be towed to the hangar, where the ceremonial handover of the aircraft will take place.

Near the hangar, the plane was greeted, as they say, with thunderous applause. There is a feeling of celebration everywhere.

The plane is heavenly colored and the sky is blue and beautiful. Let's get on board.

The new Boeing 737-800, received by Belavia, are equipped with modern passenger Boeing showrooms Sky Interior, which features variable lighting to help passengers better cope with jet lag and nighttime flights.

The design and functionality of the cabin provides increased space for hand luggage and more space for each passenger.

The new aircraft of Belavia Airlines is designed to carry 189 passengers economy class. The airliner is planned to be used both on regular and charter flights. The plane will make its first commercial flight on August 20 after completion of all customs and technical procedures.

The new corporate identity will be presented in the external design of the air carrier’s corporate elements: aircraft and office interiors, crew uniforms, documentation templates, official website, navigation and advertising surfaces.

The development of the livery took a year and a half. The main developers of the airline's new style were two American branding agencies - Teague (interior design) and Paul Wylde (livery design). When developing the layout, the emphasis was on new principles in the airline’s approach to operation: punctuality, reliability, modernity. Of the five proposed concepts, one was chosen, where the cornflower became the key symbol.

The main new element of the Belarusian airline Belavia is the traditional Belarusian flower, which has long been considered a symbol of purity, affability and friendliness. The core of the graphic “cornflower” means home, that is, Belarus, where you always want to return, and the petals of the blue flower convey the feeling of flight and forward movement. The cornflower also reflects the airline's slogan "We connect."

“The key role for passengers is played by tariffs, service and route network. We are trying to reduce ticket prices and strive for a hybrid airline model. It is with the new corporate identity that we want to emphasize the transition from the image of a classic airline to a new model. We monitor global trends and changes in the market, and also monitor the wishes of our passengers and try to respond promptly to them,” added Anatoly Gusarov.

Something like this this time. I'm not saying goodbye!

Out of duty and the dictates of my heart, I often fly, and most often as a passenger of the country’s only airline, Belavia. The national carrier has high prices, but a developed route network and, importantly, the airport is here in Minsk, not Moscow, Vilnius or Kyiv. But the Belavia fleet leaves much to be desired; the planes are almost all old. I have collected information about all the company’s ships, their age and origin in one post.

Passenger's golden rule: if defects in the aircraft cabin are visible to the naked eye (poorly cleaned, something is broken, the toilet is dirty), then the technical part is also a mess. I have encountered problems with Belavia more than once: I remember that on a flight from Berlin to Minsk, condensation was dripping from the ceiling of the CRJ for the entire 2.5 hours of the flight, which the stewards removed with napkins, and they also plugged the cracks from which water was pouring. Beauty!

The basis of Belavia's fleet is made up of Boeing 737-300/500 aircraft - there are only 15 of them, not counting the government aircraft. Four CRJ 100/200, three TU-154M and four Embraer 175/195.

Boeing 737-500, tail number EW-250PA. Aircraft age 19 years

This is the first Boeing to arrive in Minsk - it arrived in the fall of 2003. Like most other vessels, it is leased. From the factory he went to serve at the American Continental Airlines, where he stayed for 8 years. I flew for Cambodian Mekong Airlines for another six months. Since then in “Belavia”.

Boeing 737-500, tail number EW-251PA. Aircraft age 17 years

This board has a biography of only two lines: 7 years in the Brazilian Rio Sul, and since 2004 in Belavia.

Boeing 737-500, tail number EW-252PA. Aircraft age 18 years

This old man started his job at Continental Airlines, where he flew for 7 years. Then the plane was transferred to the now defunct Lithuanian Airlines, where it served for almost 5 years. Entered Belavia in March 2008.

Boeing 737-500, tail number EW-253PA. Aircraft age 18 years

Same fate as the previous ship. First in the USA, then Lithuania and finally Minsk. Transferred two months later than its brother.

Boeing 737-300, tail number EW-254PA. Aircraft age 21 years.

One of the oldest Belavia aircraft was the third one that arrived in 2008 and the first in the 737-300 series. It was produced back in 1993 and was in service with the Chinese Wuhan Airlines for 15 years. In the cabin of the plane you can see Chinese artifacts: hieroglyphs near the individual lighting bulbs and in the toilet.

Boeing 737-300, tail number EW-283PA. Aircraft age 18 years.

The first Boeing to arrive in 2009 has a long biography. In 1996, he began flying in Switzerland, two years later he moved to the wonderful country of Côte d’Ivoire, then to Cape Verde, served for five years in the national Chinese airline and finally joined Belavia.

Boeing 737-300, tail number EW-282PA. Aircraft age 19 years.

In June 2009, the Belavia fleet was replenished with another “three hundred”. In 1995, the ship began service with the American Continental Airlines, eight years later it worked for Ryanair for 1.5 years, then for five years in China.

Boeing 737-500, tail number EW-290PA. Aircraft age 18 years.

The third and last Boeing in 2009 was the 500. This board was seen as part of the Brazilian Rio Sul and the Lithuanian Lithuanian.

Boeing 737-500, tail number EW-294PA. Aircraft age 18 years.

In 2010, Belavia’s fleet was replenished with only one Boeing. He has a short biography - for 14 years before arriving in Belarus, he transported passengers from the Chinese Xiamen.

Boeing 737-300, tail number EW-308PA. Aircraft age 24 years.

This is really a pensioner! The plane began its life in 1990 and entered service in the Netherlands with Transavia, managed to stay with Cameroon Airlines for two weeks, but then returned to blessed Holland. In 2002, the board was purchased by the main Norwegian low-cost airline Norwegian, where it spent another 9 years. In “Belavia” since 2011.

Boeing 737-300, tail number EW-336PA. Aircraft age 19 years.

He started in 1995 in the USA, then was part of Ryanair, the British BMIbaby and even the Russian Kuban. He entered Minsk in the summer of 2012.

Boeing 737-300, tail number EW-366PA. Aircraft age 17 years.

Produced in 1997, it entered the fleet of the German low-cost airline Fly-DBA, where it served for 8 years. Then he served for five years in the British Thomson Airways, two years in the Czech Central Charter Airways and a year in the Romanian Carpatair. The aircraft entered the balance of Belavia in May 2013.

Boeing 737-300, tail number EW-386PA. Aircraft age 25 years.

The main veteran from Boeing as part of Belavia. Produced in 1989, it stayed in various Dutch companies until 2002, then flew to Norwegian. He spent another three years in Lithuania. This aircraft is one of the last to be leased Belarusian company, despite his advanced age.

Boeing 737-300, tail number EW-404PA. Aircraft age 22 years.

Another old guy, delivered to Minsk in 2014. Assembled in 1992, worked in Germany, Greece, Malaysia and Lithuania.

Boeing 737-300, tail number EW-407PA. Aircraft age 18 years.

The board is not yet involved in flights (although I may have outdated information). Behind the plane are the skies of Belgium, Romania, Britain, and now Belarusian skies.

CRJ-100, tail number EW-100PJ. Aircraft age 15 years.

In 1999, as a new recruit, he began serving in France, then in the German Eurowings. In 2004 he entered the regional American company Mesa, and arrived in Minsk three years later. Became the property of the company this year.

CRJ-200, tail number EW-277PJ. Aircraft age 11 years.

In 2009, Belavia received two CRJs - both arrived in April. This plane was operated by three different small American airlines for six years, and then flew to Minsk.

CRJ-200, tail number EW-276PJ. Aircraft age 11 years.

Similar fate, same age and timing of transfer.

CRJ-200, tail number EW-303PJ. Aircraft age 14 years.

This aircraft worked for two different Danish companies, and arrived in Minsk in 2010. Since then, Belavia has no longer leased CRJ aircraft. Let me remind you that another aircraft was lost in Yerevan - it was the only CRJ-100 (manufactured in 1999).

Embraer-175, tail numbers EW-340PO and EW-341PO. Aircraft age 2 years.

Belavia began leasing in 2012 brazilian planes Embraer. The first two are “one hundred and seventy-five.”

Embraer-195, tail numbers EW-399PO and EW-400PO. Aircraft age 0 years.

These two beauties were admitted this year. On at the moment The youngest aircraft of the Belarusian airline are the property of Belavia, and are not leased.

TU-154M

Unfortunately, there is very little information on the three Belavia carcasses. It is known that they should be replaced by the incoming 737-300, but this year some aircraft are still operating on charter flights. There are three of them in total, with an approximate age of 24-27 years.

In general, the age of Belavia’s aircraft is not that great. Airplanes produced in the 90s of the last century will fly until the 2020s - this is normal. Another thing is that old ships are uneconomical, require more technical attention and are morally obsolete.

Obviously, Belavia does not have sufficient funds to renew its fleet with new aircraft, so we will continue to fly on aircraft that have been in a variety of hands and countries.

I also note that in addition to Lukashenko’s Boeing-767 and the old TU-154M, new aircraft were purchased for the Belarusian authorities - this is one Boeing 737-800 NextGen and a CRJ-200.

P.S. Did you see a mistake? Do you have anything to add? Write in the comments!

MINSK, April 9 - Sputnik. Belavia Airlines is buying five new aircraft from the Danish leasing company Nordic Aviation Capital, CEO of the Belarusian national carrier Anatoly Gusarov said on Monday.

“The Embraer-175 and Embraer-195 medium-range passenger aircraft occupy a place in the fleet between the roomy Boeing-737 and the small CRJ,” Gusarov explained.

Thanks to the purchase of new aircraft, Belavia hopes to increase the frequency of flights.

Under the terms of the agreement, the first three aircraft will be delivered in April - before the start of the second European Games, which will be held in Minsk in 2019. The remaining aircraft will arrive in Belarus in December 2019 and April 2020. Aircraft are purchased on lease, and after 12 years they will be returned to suppliers.

Why are new planes needed?

By every measure, including fuel economy, the new planes are more efficient.

“The newer the plane, the less it costs on the ground and needs less maintenance,” explained the deputy general director"Belavia" Igor Cherginets.

Airline savings affect ticket prices. According to Cherginets, it cannot be said that with the purchase of new aircraft, Belavia tickets will become cheaper, but the company plans to continue working to reduce prices.

“Passengers’ demands to reduce prices are a natural process. In recent years, we have been systematically reducing them,” he explained.

Gusarov noted that Belavia is often reproached for the age of its aircraft. He assured that the level of safety is ensured equally well on all ships, but the new aircraft have a number of advantages - they have more comfortable seats, lower noise levels.

A new plane of Belavia Airlines was welcomed in Minsk. He came straight from . The plane reached Belarus with three landings.

Meeting the new aircraft at Minsk National Airport

Embraer 175 is designed for short flights, so on the way to Belarus the pilots had to make three stopovers. One is in Brazil, at Recife airport. Then - on the island of Sal in Atlantic Ocean. The third stop is in Spain, Alicante. This departure airport was listed today on the online board of the Minsk National Airport.

The CEO of Belavia flew to Minsk on board a new plane from Brazil Anatoly Gusarov.

Embraer 175 arrived immediately in the airline's new cornflower blue livery. The interior of the aircraft is designed in the same style.

In addition to this Embraer, two more aircraft will arrive from a plant in Brazil in Minsk in the coming months. The Belarusian airline plans to form a fleet of aircraft from two manufacturers: Embraer and Boeing.

Belavia does not say how much the new aircraft cost, but it was previously reported that the cost of the order for two aircraft (Embraer-175 and Embraer-195) was $99.1 million.

The Development Bank and the Brazilian financial agency are participating in financing the purchase of the new Embraer.