The Infrastructure Ministry of Ukraine has denied reports that Belavia airline (Belarus) has stopped flying between Kyiv and Minsk.

"The State Aviation Service of Ukraine reported that Belavia received a permit to service seven morning, regular flights a week on the Minsk-Kyiv-Minsk route, and as of March 29, the airline has a permit to service an evening flight. The permit to service seven evening regular flights will be issued when parity between Ukraine and Belarus is restored," the ministry told Interfax-Ukraine last week.

The ministry said that under the interstate agreements signed by Kyiv and Minsk, the carriers of the two countries can service 14 flights a week, but only Belavia airline serviced 14 flights on the route over the last several years.

"Ukrainian carriers did not use their parity right, but on April 3, 2015 Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) scheduled 14 Kyiv-Minsk-Kyiv flights. Despite an UIA request, Belarus only allowed it to service seven flights and an unacceptable timetable was offered for the other seven flights," the ministry said.

The ministry also said that with the provision of permits to service the seven flights, State Aviation Service had confirmed that it is ready to provide all the required permits to Belarus, but it insists on the restoration of parity between the two airlines.