Charter connection between Russia and Turkey restored

NordWind if one of the airlines which rushed to take advantage of the re-opened market (Photo by Sergey Sergeyev)

On Friday, September 2, charter air connection between Russia and Turkey resumed after a long ban imposed by Russian president Vladimir Putin in November of last year. The first charter flight in over nine months between the two countries was a Boeing 767 operated by the Russian carrier Royal Flight, which flew from Sheremetyevo airport, in Moscow, to Anatalya, in Turkey. Over 300 tickets were sold for the trip.

Another charter company taking part in the re-opening of the market is NordWind, which, on Sunday, September 4, began operating charter flights to Turkey out of Sheremetyevo.

The airport has already made the necessary preparations to accommodate the extra passenger traffic that is expected to appear as a result of the lift of the ban. The airport has, among other things, started operating a free night transfer for passengers between terminals.

Turkish aviation authorities have granted 18 approvals for the total of 63 frequencies between Russia and Antalya. According to media reports, permits are issued to Russian airlines without restrictions.

Charter travel between Russia and Turkey was banned in November of last year on an order by President Putin as a result of the shooting down of the Russian Sukhoi Su-24 by the Turkish Air Force back in November of last year.