Rosaviatsiya extends temporary closure of 11 airports in southern Russia until April 1

MOSCOW. March 24 (Interfax) - The Russian Federal Agency for Air Transport (Rosaviatsiya) has extended the ban on flights to 11 airports in central and southern Russia for the fifth time, until April 1.

"Temporary restrictions on flights to the airports of the Russian cities of Anapa, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Gelendzhik, Krasnodar, Kursk, Lipetsk, Rostov-on-Don, Simferopol and Elista have been extended until 3:45 a.m. Moscow time on April 1," the agency said.

Airlines are still recommended to use the airports of Sochi, Volgograd, Mineralnye Vody, Stavropol and Moscow instead.

The other airports in Russia, including international ones, are operating as usual, the agency said.

Rosaviatsiya imposed restrictions on domestic flights on February 24, when the Russian special operation in Ukraine began. The restrictions have been extended several times since then.