Xavier Bettel (DP) said the cargo carrier “decided itself, for the moment” not to fly over Belarus, 100,7 public radio quoted the PM as saying on 25 May.
Bettel was speaking after EU leaders called for a ban on European airlines using Belarusian airspace after a Ryanair flight was forcibly diverted to Minsk, and the journalist Roman Protasevich and his girlfriend were arrested before the airplane was allowed to depart.
Bettel said Luxembourg’s government had “recommended” that Cargolux avoid Belarus as the country “does not comply with international flight regulations” which “represents a danger to aircraft”, 100,7 reported.
Cargolux is one of Europe’s largest all-freight airlines. Several other airlines--including Air Baltic, Air France, Finnair, KLM, Lot, Lufthansa, SAS and Singapore Airlines—have similarly stopped entering Belarusian airspace, the AFP, BBC and Reuters have reported.
A Cargolux spokeswoman told Delano on Wednesday: “The decision of the EU, on the matter, is being actively managed by Cargolux and we do not expect any major disruption to our operations at this time.”
Luxair does not have any flights that go through Belarusian airspace.