Iran’s Atlas Air launches Minsk–Tehran flights with a rare 25-seat MD-87 featuring lie-flat beds

Iranian carrier Atlas Air has launched regular flights between Tehran and Minsk, using a rare McDonnell Douglas MD-87 aircraft with a luxury cabin configured for just 25 passengers. The airline specializes in VIP and charter services, and the MD-87 is its flagship.

The aircraft first arrived in Minsk on August 9, with photos published by the aviation Telegram channel MSQ.SPOTTER. Atlas Air has been operating since 2011 but began expanding its premium and charter services relatively recently. The company's fleet currently includes 14 aircraft, most of which are small business jets seating three to five passengers. Only three planes are used for regular passenger transport: a four-engine Avro RJ-85, a 150-seat McDonnell Douglas MD-83, and the MD-87.

The MD-87 is the most unusual aircraft in the fleet. Built in 1992, it originally flew with Japan Airlines before being used in business aviation. In 2025, the plane received Iranian registration and joined Atlas Air. Instead of a standard economy layout, the cabin features just 25 seats that recline into full lie-flat beds. The interior also includes a separate meeting area and a private space. In terms of comfort, the aircraft is closer to a small private jet than a typical commercial airliner.

Flights between Tehran and Minsk are scheduled once a week, on Sundays. The routes have not yet appeared in the schedule of Minsk National Airport, but tickets are already available for purchase on the airline's website. Atlas Air is positioning the service as a premium option for travelers between Iran and Belarus.