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Russian Transport Ministry: Over 5 mln tourists to fly to Turkey by charters in 2017

Russia got tighter airport security guarantees from Turkey, says transport minister

© Sergey Bobylev/TASS

MOSCOW, August 29. /TASS/. Russian Ministry of Transport expects 5-5.5 mln tourists will fly to Turkey by charter flights in 2017, Minister Maxim Sokolov said on Monday on the air with Rossiya 1 TV Channel.

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"We expect charter flights to Turkey will achieve their normal annual performance of approximately 5-5.5 mln tourists per year in 2017," Sokolov said.

Russia closed the charter air traffic with Turkey since the end of October 2015 in a response to the attack of Turkish Air Force against the Russian bomber performing the sortie within the framework of the antiterrorist operation in Syria.

Russia and Turkey decided to start resuming ties this August after apologies brought by the president of Turkey and as a result of bilateral negotiations between leaders of two countries.

Russia gets tighter airport security guarantees

According to the minister, Russia has received tighter airport security guarantees from Turkey.

"We have received guarantees from our Turkish colleagues that security will be tightened at Turkish airports, to which our charter companies will fly," the minister said.

"Among such measures, we can mention the enhanced inspection of about 20% of the passenger flow directly at the boarding gate: this will be a personal security check with a metal detector and the inspection of passengers’ belongings," Sokolov said.

"There will also be inspections to watch movements on the take-off and landing strip, the airport apron, the runway of our planes, the delivery of luggage, fuel and other items to them. And, of course, there will be special control of luggage, mail, other cargoes and catering supplies that will be delivered to our charter airliners," the transport minister said.

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