Turkey Fails to Convince Russia to Begin Flights in Tourism Blow

Turkish officials failed to convince Russia to lift a one-and-half month ban on flights between the two countries at the end of May, dealing an early setback for a tourist sector attempting to recover from a year of pandemic restrictions as new cases fall.

Moscow is now expected to allow tourists to travel to Turkey, a popular destination for Russians, from mid-June at the earliest following high-level meetings in Russia’s capital on Monday, according to a senior Turkish official with direct knowledge of the matter.