Moskovia Airlines (Zhukovsky) will 'likely' suspend operations outright with effect from September 1 Russia's Interfax news agency has reported. Quoting Irina Turina, the press liaison officer for Russia tourism council (Rustourunion), the newswire said fears over the airline's future have lead many passengers to cancel their bookings with Tivat charter flights among those most affected. The subsequent surge in requests for refunds has exacerbated the airline's ability to maintain operations, the report added.
Following a surprise audit of the carrier's books in early July, Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) ordered Moskovia to cease selling tickets for scheduled flights effective July 29. The airline was then to have become a charter carrier with effect from September 1.
Russian tourists have grown weary of local operators after the recent tightening of European and US sanctions on Russia resulted in the collapse of four Russian tour operators. This in turn led to over 50'000 tourists being stranded outside the country.
