Tour operator Anex Tour guarantees transportation of its tourists on AZUR Air flights until March 19, and after that date, a change of airline is possible, Interfax-Tourism reports, citing Irina Tyurina, press secretary of the Russian Union of Travel Industry (RUTI).
In the company "We were informed that the tour operator is fully responsible for all tours with AZUR Air transportation that have already been sold for departures before March 19 and will provide transportation to all tourists. For those tours sold for departures after March 19, the tour operator is negotiating with carriers to ensure passengers' transportation to their resorts if AZUR Air's flight permit is not restored," she said.
According to I. Tyurina, tours will also be sold after March 19, but with the expectation of a possible change of carrier if AZUR Air is not granted permission to operate flights. She emphasized that Anex Tour does not sell tickets for the airline's flights separately.
In early February, Rosaviatsia limited the validity of the operator's certificate of the largest charter airline in the Russian Federation, AZUR air, until March 20. The decision was made after an inspection that the agency conducted in December 2017: "inconsistencies and shortcomings concerning the maintenance of airworthiness of aircraft and the organization of flight operations" were identified in the air carrier's activities.
Rostourism reported on Thursday that tour operators and agencies continue to sell tours with AZUR Air for departures after March 19 and urged them to cease this activity. They also urged them to relocate tourists who have already purchased such tours on other airlines. The agency also demanded that ticket sales for AZUR Air flights be stopped after March 19.
The tour operator Anex Tour is AZUR Air's main charter customer and strategic partner. The company's press service previously told Interfax-Tourism that they hoped the carrier's issues with Rosaviatsiya would be resolved and were not negotiating with other airlines.
Source: trn-news.ru