Russia lifts ban on charter flights to Turkey
A ban, which was in force for almost a year, on charter flights from Russia to Turkey has been lifted by Moscow.
The corresponding draft resolution was submitted to the government on the 28th of August by the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation. It was signed by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. The document can be seen on the website of the Russian government.
The ban was imposed after Turkey shot down a Russian Su-24 fighter plane in November 2015.
The press secretary of the Russian Union of Travel Industry, Irina Tyurina, said that the flights will resume over the next few days. “Some will be able to resume faster, while others might take more time as tour operators have different capabilities. However, we must understand that the planes were not standing on the runway waiting for Turkey to open. They may have to be relocated from other areas, which means that it is unlikely that they will start flying from tomorrow,” she told Interfax.