Belavia Belarusian Airlines is the flag carrier and largest airline of Belarus, wholly owned by the Belarusian government. Founded following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, it operates scheduled passenger services from its main base at Minsk National Airport to destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and the CIS. The airline has faced significant operational challenges since May 2021, when European Union member states closed their airspace to Belavia following the forced diversion of Ryanair Flight 4978 and the arrest of dissident journalist Roman Protasevich. This led to a dramatic reduction in the airline's European route network. Despite these restrictions, Belavia continues to operate domestically and to destinations in countries that have not imposed bans, including Russia, Turkey, the UAE, and several CIS states. The airline has adapted its network accordingly and remains the primary air transport provider for Belarus.