Russia’s halting of visas to Turkish flight crews against int’l civil aviation rules: Minister

ANKARA

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Russia’s recent move to stop offering visas to Turkish flight crews is against international civil aviation rules, Turkish Transportation, Communications and Maritime Affairs Minister Binali Yıldırım said on Jan. 6, adding that Ankara would not make any retaliatory moves. 

Two Turkish airline companies have temporarily halted flights to Russia after experiencing problems in acquiring visas for their flight crews. 

Low-cost carrier Pegasus has stopped flights until Jan. 13, while Onur Airways has also halted flights to Nalchik until Jan. 14. Turkish Airlines, however, said it would continue its service to Russia because the company had previously acquired visas for crew members. 

“Russia’s move is against international civil aviation rules,” said Yıldırım in a press meeting in Ankara, as quoted by Reuters. 

“We’ll immediately remind them through diplomatic channels that this move doesn’t comply with International Civil Aviation Organization norms,” he added. 

Russia decided to suspend a visa-free regime with Turkey starting at the beginning of 2016 after a diplomatic crisis between the two countries erupted in November 2015.