Russia counting on India's airlines resuming flights to country - Manturov

NEW DELHI. Nov 12 (Interfax) - Russia is counting on expanding air traffic with India and returning to India's airlines operating flights between the two countries, First Deputy Prime Minister and Co-Chairman of the Russia-India IGC for Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation Denis Manturov said during the intergovernmental commission's latest meeting.

"We are interested in expanding direct flights between our countries. [...] We are counting on increasing the frequency of flights, developing the route network, as well as India's airlines resuming flights," Manturov said.

Manturov noted that only Russia's Aeroflot Airlines currently operates 12 regular flights per week to India.

Manturov also emphasized that the tourist flow between the countries has not yet reached pre-Covid levels despite the positive dynamics, and he has suggested creating a separate working group within the commission to handle the matter.

Air India, in addition to Aeroflot, operated flights between Moscow and New Delhi prior to the Western sanctions imposed against Russia in 2022.