Source: Agency restricts flights of Russian airlines to Europe

MOSCOW, Mar 12 (PRIME) -- The Federal Air Transport Agency has notified Russian airlines about limitations of flights to and from Italy, Spain, Germany, and France starting from Friday, a source familiar with the notification sent by the agency told PRIME late on Wendesday.

“From 12.00 a.m. of March 13, 2020, a temporary restriction is imposed on aircraft passenger transportation from the territory of Russia to the territory of the Italian Republic, to the Federal Republic of Germany, to the Kingdom of Spain, and to the French Republic and back,” the notification read as quoted by the source.

The exemptions are flights between Moscow and Rome, Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt am Main, Madrid, Barcelona, and Paris done through the Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport, the source said.

S7 Airlines said in a statement that it would suspend its scheduled flights to the countries starting from Friday, and organize charter flights to get all its passengers from the countries back to Russia. All passengers of the airline that bought tickets to the countries will be able to refund them or swap them for a ticket for a later date free of charge.

Pobeda, the low-cost subsidiary of Russian national flagship carrier Aeroflot, also decided to suspended its flights to Germany and Spain from Friday due to the agency’s restrictions.

Earlier in the day, Aeroflot said in a statement that it would suspend some flights to the four countries from Friday till April 30 amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The Federal Tourism Agency said in a statement that it agreed with the Federal Air Transport Agency to coordinate actions of airlines and tour operators over settlement of mutual claims.

Irina Tyurina, press secretary of the Russian Union of Travel Industry, said that the lack of a clear deadline for the restrictions deals a significant blow to both outbound and inbound tourism. All countries that imposed restrictions for tourists over the coronavirus outbreak put clear deadlines, she said.

“The tour operators say that cancellations of outbound tours is growing steadily. Russians are now rejecting not only the countries from the ‘coronavirus blacklist’, but safe directions as well in order not to tempt the fate. If there were any deadlines for the quarantine, people would not refrain from October tours to Jordan, for instance,” she said.

This situation prompts Russian tour operators to cut their costs and staff, she said.

Earlier on Wednesday, the World Health Organization announced the pandemic of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

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