relax travel restrictions
\n MOSCOW
\nRussia plans to end restrictions on flights to and from 52 countries after April 9, part of its plans to reduce measures taken to slow the spread of Covid-19, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said.
\nRussia plans to resume flights to and from Argentina, South Africa and other \u201cfriendly countries\u201d, Mishustin said, meaning those that have not joined the latest wave of Western sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a \u201cspecial operation\u201d to demilitarise its neighbour.
\nRussia imposed broad travel restrictions at the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, many of which remain in force, but has gradually expanded the list of countries deemed safe for air travel. Other countries with which Russia will resume flights after April 9 include Algeria, China, Lebanon, Peru and Pakistan, Russia\u2019s coronavirus task force said.
\nMishustin also said Russia would be lifting restrictions on travel across the land border between Russia and China. Russia has closed its airspace to airlines from 36 countries, including all 27 members of the European Union, in response to Ukraine-related sanctions targeting its aviation sector.
\nPunitive measures imposed by Western powers have also forced Western firms to terminate leasing contracts with Russian airlines for over 500 aircraft. The sanctions also prevent Russian airlines from buying aircraft parts or maintenance services from Europe or the United States, adding to the pressure on the world\u2019s 11th largest aviation market from a ban on using North American and European airspace. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
relax travel restrictions MOSCOW Russia plans to end restrictions on flights to and from 52 countries after April 9, part of its plans to reduce measures taken to slow the spread of Covid-19, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said. Russia plans to resume flights to and from Argentina, South Africa and other \u201cfriendly countries\u201d, Mishustin said, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-253153","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n