Russia lifts ban on charter flights to Turkey

Russia’s prime minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a resolution lifting the ban on charter flights to Turkey Aug 28, leading the way for Russian leisure carriers to file requests to begin charter flights between the two countries. Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency said it is ready to allow airlines to resume charter flights. Charter flights between the countries ceased in Nov 2015 after Turkish fighter jets downed a Russian fighter aircraft as it crossed into Turkish airspace while on a sortie against Islamic State forces in neighbouring Syria. Russia imposed sanctions on Turkey, advising its citizens not to travel to Turkey for leisure. Scheduled flights were not affected. The charter flights ban led to considerable losses for the Turkish travel industry and a decrease of international passengers numbers for Russian airlines. <br/>