Russia lifts ban on charter flights to Turkey

Russia has signed a decree lifting restrictions on charter flights to Turkey after an eight-month ban introduced due to tensions between the two countries arising from the downing of a Russian warplane by Ankara in November 2015.

The decree was signed on Sunday, following which a number of Russian airlines have begun to submit applications to the air transport authorities for charter flights to Turkey, reports Xinhua.

Meanwhile, the Russian government has proposed that airlines should take additional steps to ensure the safety of charter flights between Russia and Turkey.

Russia has taken a series of restrictive measures against Turkey from 2016, including bans on the import of Turkish foodstuffs, charter flights in both directions, and the visa-free travel regime between them.

On June 30, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a lift of the ban on package tours to Turkey and instructed the government to take steps to resume charter flights between the two countries after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan apologised for the downing of the Russian warplane.