Russia makes official proposal to restore regular air traffic on Moscow-Tbilisi route
TBILISI. July 10 (Interfax) - Russia has made an official proposal to restore regular air traffic on the Moscow-Tbilisi route. The proposal was delivered to Georgia via the Swiss Embassy, Georgian Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Natia Mikeladze told reporters on Wednesday.
"The memo suggests the resumption of regular flights from Tbilisi to Moscow and back. The frequency of flights will not be limited," Mikeladze said.
Flights may resume on September 15 because the authorities of both countries need some time to make arrangements, she said.
"Before September 1 we, together with the Russian aviation authorities, will draw up a list of airlines to begin making regular flights between Tbilisi and Moscow on September 15," the deputy minister pointed out.
Keti Okruashvili, press secretary of TAV Georgia, the Tbilisi international airport operator, said earlier negotiations on the resumption of Aeroflot flights to Georgia had been successful. Georgian businesses, including Georgian Airways, had also repeatedly expressed their wish to resume regular flights to Moscow.
Russia halted air traffic to and from Georgia in August 2008 over the armed conflict in South Ossetia. Traffic resumed in August 2010. Currently there are direct charter flights from Moscow and Yekaterinburg to Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi. The flights are operated by Russia's S7 Airlines and Urals Airlines and Georgian Airways.