ISTANBUL, TURKEY — Russian charter operator AZUR Air has launched flights between Moscow and Istanbul, the company's press service reported.


"The flight schedule started on March 13 and is planned until the end of the winter schedule. Moreover, the airline is considering the possibility of operating these flights in the summer season as well," the company's press service said.

Flights are operated on Boeing 767-300 aircraft registered in Russia, AZUR Air noted. The same planes are operated for flights with passengers from abroad.

Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) previously in March had recommended that airlines suspend international flights in order to avoid seizures of their aircraft that had begun after the European Union had imposed sanctions against Russia.

There was an exception for carriers that are not at risk of seizure, which involves the aircraft being registered in the Russian Federation, insured and reinsured by Russian insurers, and they must belong to Russian lessors or the carriers themselves.