The bus route "Riga – Vitebsk" is closing, and it’s not the only one 0 8

This is not about a direct ban on passenger transport to Belarus, but rather a decision not to extend the licenses of carriers servicing these routes. After the expiration of the permits, the flights will simply disappear from the schedules. Recall that the Road Transport Administration (ATD) announced back in November of last year that it would not extend existing permits and would not issue new route permits, including transit ones, for regular bus passenger transport from Latvia to Russia and Belarus.

Currently, regular bus services from Latvia to Belarus are provided by the companies Latlines and Dautrans. However, their licenses are set to expire in the coming months, and no extensions are planned.

Thus, the license of Dautrans for the route "Riga – Vitebsk" expires on January 31, 2026. This means that a few days later, flights on this route will cease.

Latlines is in a similar situation. The permit for the route "Riga – Minsk" is valid until February 26, 2026. The license for the route "Riga – Gomel," which passes through Polotsk, Vitebsk, Orsha, and Mogilev, expires on June 27, 2026. After these dates, regular bus services on the specified routes will also be halted.