Russia's state aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, has refused a dozen Russian carriers from increasing the number of charter flights they do to resorts in Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, and Italy, local media reports.

A total of eleven air companies – two Moscow-based and nine regional – feature on Rosaviatsia blacklist. Sixty-six flights have been affected.

Even though the news comes on the eve of the high summer season, experts say this may lead to hikes in the costs for spending holidays in Bulgaria, but will hardly trigger an outflow of tourists. According to the bookings so far Russian tourists in the country are expected to grow by at least 15% over last year.

Russian Federal Agency for Air Transport Rosaviatsia nixed the plans of several airlines that intended to service this summer charter flights to the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, says the correspondent of the Bulgarian National Radio.

The news took by surprise the tour operators as well, which will now have to seek alternative routes for the customers who have purchased tickets already.

The number of permits issued by Rosaviatsia will fail to provide the number of flights needed from Moscow to these countries, according to the Executive Director of the Company Aviochartar Alexander Morozov.

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