The national cargo carrier of Belarus, established in December 1992 and based at Minsk National Airport, and the largest all-cargo airline in the country. It holds Ilyushin Il-76TD heavy four-engine freighters and a Boeing 747-329SF widebody freighter and has long operated cargo flights linking Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Since September 2016 it has jointly run a scheduled Minsk to Tianjin cargo charter with a Chinese partner, using Boeing 747 freighters to carry export cargo from northern China, and it is one of the widebody options available from China to Belarus and Eastern Europe.
Chinese-language service provider: Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited, handling booking, customs declaration and end-to-end logistics for international air freight, on routes from China to the United States and all major continents.
TransAVIAexport Airlines (IATA two-letter code AL, ICAO three-letter code TXC, call sign TRANSEXPORT) was established in Belarus in December 1992 and is one of the earliest cargo carriers set up in the country, state-owned. It conducts commercial air transport under the air operator certificate issued by the aviation administration of the Belarusian Ministry of Transport and Communications, received the ICAO three-letter code TXC in June 1993, and received the IATA two-letter code AL and three-digit code 221 in 1998. The head office and main operating base are at Minsk National Airport, about 45 km from the city centre, with customs and border agencies on site for import and export clearance and transhipment.
Over more than thirty years of operation the company has kept all-cargo work as its single line of business and runs no scheduled passenger flights. Public records show its aircraft at airports in Europe, Asia, South America, Australia, Antarctica, the Middle East and Africa, and it has long carried project materials, machinery, out-of-gauge cargo and humanitarian relief. It works from Minsk and keeps a long-standing operating base at Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, a structure that lets it organize cargo flights in both directions between Europe and the Middle East. Public records show the company using the name TAE Avia in 2021.
China business is part of the company's international network. Public reports record that on 21 September 2016 a Boeing 747-300 freighter landed at Tianjin airport, opening the Minsk to Tianjin to Minsk cargo charter, operated jointly with a Beijing-based international freight forwarder; the first flight carried more than 150 tonnes in and out, with an initial plan of two charters a week that later turned into scheduled operation as the market allowed. Inbound cargo on the route is mainly dairy products, chilled fresh goods and machinery parts, and outbound cargo comes from Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and neighbouring provinces, mainly exported garments, machinery parts and electronics. The company has since continued to run scheduled Minsk to Tianjin cargo flights with Chinese charter operators. In April 2020 public imagery shows a Boeing 747-300SF of the company operating a cargo flight at Beijing Capital International Airport.
| Airline | TransAVIAexport Airlines |
| Company type | State-owned all-cargo carrier, no scheduled passenger service |
| Country | Belarus |
| Global headquarters | Minsk, Belarus |
| Hub airport | Minsk National Airport (MSQ / UMMS) Long-standing operating base: Sharjah International Airport, United Arab Emirates |
| Founded | December 1992 |
| IATA two-letter code | AL |
| ICAO three-letter code | TXC |
| Air waybill prefix | 221 |
| Official lookup website | transaviaexport.com |
| Cargo aircraft | 6 Il-76TD freighters 1 Boeing 747-329SF freighter |
| China services | Scheduled Minsk to Tianjin cargo charter |
The information above is compiled from public sources. Operating approvals, scope of operations and fleet may change, and the carrier's latest publications govern.
The scheduled Minsk to Tianjin cargo charter is flown with Boeing 747 freighters and organized as full-aircraft and full-pallet loads for export cargo from northern China, with garments, machinery parts and electronics as the main outbound categories.
The Il-76TD is a four-engine heavy freighter with an opening nose and on-board loading equipment, suited to loading and carrying construction machinery, complete plant and out-of-gauge single pieces.
The main deck of the Boeing 747-329SF is loaded with standard pallets and containers and carries about 102 tonnes and about 704 cubic metres per aircraft, which suits large lots of general cargo and full-pallet, full-container shipments.
Full-aircraft charters, one-way and return non-scheduled flights can be arranged as needed, for project materials, seasonal volumes and shipments with concentrated deadlines.
Note on capacity structure: capacity is concentrated in two types, the heavy four-engine freighter and the widebody freighter, suited to bulk palletised and containerised cargo and to out-of-gauge single pieces. On the China lane the main service is the scheduled cargo charter flown with Boeing 747 freighters, with schedule density and available capacity varying with the market. For out-of-gauge cargo, piece dimensions, weight and centre of gravity must be provided at the booking stage so that the carrier can approve the loading plan before confirming acceptance.
The TransAVIAexport Airlines fleet consists of two freighter types, the Il-76TD and the Boeing 747-329SF. The Il-76TD is a four-engine heavy transport with loading access at the nose and tail and a hold fitted with roller tracks and hoisting equipment; public reference figures put it at about 45 tonnes of payload and about 210 cubic metres of hold volume, suited to construction machinery, complete plant and out-of-gauge cargo. The Boeing 747-329SF is a widebody freighter with public reference figures of about 102 tonnes of payload and about 704 cubic metres of hold volume, with the main deck loaded by standard pallets and containers for bulk general cargo and full-pallet shipments. In its early years the company used two Boeing 747-200F aircraft as its main international freight capacity; that type has left the active fleet.
| Aircraft type | Number | Category | Legs operated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Il-76TD | 6 aircraft | Four-engine heavy freighter | Regional cargo, project materials and non-scheduled flights |
| Boeing 747-329SF | 1 aircraft | Widebody freighter | Scheduled cargo charters to China and international mainline services |
| Boeing 747-200F (historic) | 2 aircraft | Widebody freighter | The main type in the company's early international freight operations |
The table is compiled from public sources. Payload and volume figures are public reference values; technical data and per-aircraft capability follow the carrier's published operating specifications.
| Widebody freighter | Scheduled cargo charters to China, moving bulk in full pallets and containers |
| Heavy four-engine freighter | Construction machinery, complete plant and out-of-gauge single pieces |
| Loading method | The heavy type has a nose door and on-board loading equipment |
| Runway suitability | The heavy four-engine freighter has relatively modest runway requirements |
| Maintenance capability | The in-house maintenance organisation is certificated for Il-76 checks at all levels |
| Specifications | Subject to the operating specifications published by the carrier |
The chart compares design payload per aircraft using public reference values. Actual payload depends on sector length, temperature, runway and loading plan, subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
The company runs the scheduled Minsk to Tianjin cargo charter jointly with a partner, and public imagery shows a Boeing 747-300SF operating a cargo flight at Beijing Capital International Airport.Tianjin as the scheduled pointTianjin sits in North China, close to cargo origins in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei.
Minsk National Airport is the main operating base, with customs and border agencies on site about 45 km from the city centre, connecting to ground distribution within Belarus and toward the CIS.
The company uses Sharjah International Airport in the United Arab Emirates as one of its long-standing operating bases, which lets it organize cargo flights toward the Middle East and across continents and match capacity on outbound and return sectors.
| Route | Airport code | Service type | Schedule notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minsk to Tianjin to Minsk | MSQ / TSN | Scheduled cargo charter | First flight in September 2016, initially twice a week, flown with Boeing 747 freighters |
| Minsk–Beijing, China–Minsk | MSQ / PEK | Charter point | Public imagery shows a Boeing 747-300SF operating a cargo flight at Beijing |
| Minsk to Europe | MSQ | Scheduled and non-scheduled cargo | Covers the main cargo airports of Central and Western Europe |
| Minsk to the Middle East | MSQ / SHJ | Scheduled and non-scheduled cargo | Uses Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates as one of its long-standing operating bases |
| Minsk–Africa | MSQ | Non-scheduled cargo | Carries project materials and humanitarian relief |
| Minsk–Asia | MSQ | Non-scheduled cargo | Carries machinery and project materials |
Route details are compiled from public sources. No fixed public timetable is available for routes without a schedule in the table. Schedules change with the season, subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
In mainland China the company has one publicly listed scheduled cargo point, Tianjin. Cargo from northern China can be loaded there on a Boeing 747 freighter and flown nonstop to Minsk, then connect at the Minsk base to onward sectors toward Europe, the Middle East and the CIS. For cargo whose final destination is Belarus or Eastern Europe, this structure means the mainline from China does not have to transit a Western European hub. Cargo flights to Beijing are organized as charters, suited to shipments with concentrated deadlines and larger volumes.
Operational note:For traffic from China to the United States and Europe we match capacity on the main carriers on those routes. Where the shipper loads at Tianjin or Beijing with Minsk as the destination airport, the available capacity on this route can be checked first, and we quote and handle customs and handover.
| Company address | Minsk National Airport, Belarus |
| Official website | transaviaexport.com |
| Operating approvals | Air operator certificate number 02, maintenance organisation certificate number TO-02 |
| Air waybill prefix | 221 |
| Own office in China | No directly owned office in China is publicly listedMust go through an agent |
| China booking contact | Contact its local agent in China, or ask us to arrange the introductionCan connect to |
| Information note | Contact details and office arrangements may change; check the carrier's latest publication before shipping |
The company carries international mainline traffic with its own freighters, and capacity on the China lane is organized mainly as full-aircraft and full-pallet loads, so booking places high demands on the loading plan and on document standards. Having a forwarder familiar with the China to Belarus flow coordinate the job reduces handovers and the risk of replanning. The main benefits are:
The scheduled Minsk to Tianjin cargo charter loads in northern China and flies nonstop to Minsk, cutting domestic road haulage and handovers for cargo from Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and nearby.
The main deck of the Boeing 747-329SF is loaded with standard pallets and containers and carries about 102 tonnes and about 704 cubic metres per aircraft, suited to bulk general and heavy cargo in full pallets and containers.
The Il-76TD has an opening nose and on-board loading equipment, suited to loading and carrying construction machinery, complete plant and out-of-gauge single pieces.
The company holds a maintenance organisation certificate, and the Minsk base can carry out Il-76 checks at all levels with fault diagnosis equipment, which supports regular bulk volumes.
With Minsk as the main base and Sharjah as a long-standing operating base, the company can organize outbound and return sectors between Europe, the Middle East and Asia, which helps match return cargo and full-aircraft charter demand.
The only publicly listed scheduled point in China is Tianjin, with limited frequencyLimited capacityBelarusian licensed carriers have been barred from EU airspace since 2024, so routings and insurance arrangements must be verified at the booking stage.
Where it fits: the strengths are in full-pallet, full-container and project cargo from Tianjin or Beijing to Minsk, and in connections beyond Minsk toward Europe, the Middle East and the CIS. For cargo whose main destinations are in Europe or North America, or that needs frequent small shipments, our plans usually put another carrier on the mainline and price each direction separately.
Tianjin sits in North China, close to cargo origins in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and neighbouring provinces. Public reports show that outbound cargo on the route comes mainly from Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and nearby provinces, with exported garments, machinery parts and electronics as the main categories. Cargo flights to Beijing are organized as charters, suited to concentrated volumes with firm delivery dates. Capacity at the two points is best requested in the same booking window so that rates can be compared.
Public reports show that inbound cargo on the route is mainly dairy products, chilled fresh goods and machinery parts, sourced from Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and other Eastern European countries. This two-way pattern leaves Chinese exports considerable room to organize outbound capacity, and also allows shippers with Eastern European import needs to arrange the return leg.
Out-of-gauge single pieces, construction machinery and complete plant must be submitted before acceptance with the full commodity description, piece dimensions and weight, centre of gravity and lifting point data, so that the carrier can approve the hold loading and tie-down plan. Confirmation for such cargo usually takes longer than for general cargo, so allow enough time for review and handling before the planned departure. We compile the data when the booking request is submitted, reducing the number of follow-up requests.
Demand for full pallets and full-aircraft charters concentrates before Chinese export peak seasons and public holidays. Capacity to China is built around Boeing 747 freighters and aircraft are limited, so bulk volumes and full charters should be requested early, with an alternative point or carrier held in reserve in the shipping plan. Return capacity is best requested at the same time as the outbound.
TransAVIAexport Airlines is the Belarusian state all-cargo carrier, established in December 1992, with its head office and main operating base at Minsk National Airport. It runs no scheduled passenger flights. The IATA two-letter code is AL, the ICAO three-letter code is TXC and the air waybill prefix is 221.
The publicly listed scheduled point is Tianjin, where the company runs the scheduled Minsk to Tianjin cargo charter with a partner; cargo flights to Beijing are organized as charters. No fixed point data is published for other airports in China.
The Tianjin route opened in September 2016, with the first flight operated by a Boeing 747-300 freighter and an initial plan of two charters a week, later turning into scheduled operation as the market allowed. Current frequency and aircraft type are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
Public sources list an active fleet of six Il-76TDs and one Boeing 747-329SF. The Il-76TD covers regional cargo, project materials and non-scheduled flights, and the Boeing 747-329SF covers the scheduled cargo charter to China and international mainline services. The two Boeing 747-200Fs used in the company's early years have left the active fleet.
The company carries general cargo, machinery, complete plant and out-of-gauge single pieces, and takes project materials as charters. Dangerous goods and other special commodities require the full commodity description, packaging specifications and the necessary certificates at the booking stage, with acceptance confirmed by the carrier after review under the applicable rules.
Cargo arriving at Minsk can be distributed by ground within Belarus and toward the CIS, and can connect to the company's onward sectors toward Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Traffic from China to the United States and Europe is matched to other carriers by us.
Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited is based in Shenzhen, China, and specialises in international air freight from China to the United States and to major markets worldwide. It books capacity on TransAVIAexport Airlines China routes, with departure from Tianjin or Beijing nonstop to Minsk and clearance, pickup and onward connections arranged at Minsk, covering quotation, customs clearance, air freight, clearance at destination and delivery. Shipping plans and rates are available on request.
Disclaimer:Prepared by Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited (Goodhope Freight). Airline names, codes, trademarks and brand marks mentioned here belong to their respective owners. We are an independent international freight forwarder and have no affiliation, agency or investment relationship with this airline. The information is compiled from public sources for reference only and does not form a contract of carriage or a service commitment. Space, rates and schedules are subject to actual confirmation by the carrier or its authorized agent on the day of booking.