Four Airbus planes previously linked to a Gambian airline were recently transferred to Minsk, Belarus. The aircraft, one Airbus A320 and three Airbus A330s, had been stationed in various locations but have now arrived at a single destination, raising strong suspicions that they may end up in Russia. This operation shares many similarities with actions Iran regularly undertakes to acquire aircraft while circumventing Western sanctions.
The Gambian airline in question, named Magic Air, is shrouded in mystery. Despite owning these four planes, the airline never commenced operations, and its official website, launched in August 2023, provides no substantial information. The site only displays a cryptic «Coming Soon» message, with no details about the company’s history, ownership, or future plans.
The airline’s fleet includes a nearly 19-year-old Airbus A320 (serial number 2600) and three Airbus A330-200s, all approximately 21 years old (serial numbers 491, 509, and 525). Notably, all these planes were previously operated by Sky Aviation of Lebanon.
The three 22-year-old A330s were initially operated by Emirates (2002-2014) and later by the Turkish airline Onur Air, before briefly serving with Saudi Arabian Airlines. After returning to Onur Air in 2020, the planes were stored and remained inactive until they were transferred to Magic Air.
The A320, which also arrived in Minsk, has a similar history. It was first operated by the Australian low-cost carrier Jetstar Airways in 2005, and from 2014, it was part of Bangkok Airways‘ fleet. It was stored in 2020 and hasn’t been used since.
The planes frequently changed owners, from HKAC and Avolon to Bellinger Aviation Services and Lebanon Sky Aviation. Despite numerous attempts to finalize leasing contracts, the agreements often fell through, leading to frequent changes in ownership.
Curiously, Magic Air never brought its planes to Banjul, the capital of Gambia. Instead, the aircraft remained parked at airports in Istanbul-Atatürk, Cairo, and Muscat. However, in a coordinated move last week, all four planes departed from these locations and flew to Minsk within a few hours.
The Airbus A330 with the registration C5-TAC left Cairo on Friday, August 16. The Airbus A320 registered as C5-TAA departed Istanbul on Saturday, August 17, followed by the two Airbus A330s registered as C5-TAB and C5-TAD, which took off from Muscat. All four planes subsequently landed in Minsk, as reported by the Russian aviation channel Aviatorshina.
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Speculation suggests that this unusual route could be a method to acquire aircraft and circumvent international sanctions affecting Russia’s commercial aviation. It is likely that these Airbus planes will continue from Belarus to Russia, where direct deliveries of aircraft to Russian airlines are currently prohibited. This case follows a similar incident where an Airbus A320neo, fitted with a VIP cabin, was sent to Russia via Muscat.
