Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov has ordered the government plane to be flown to Burgas to aid in the transportation of hundreds of stranded Russian tourists who had their flights cancelled Saturday.

Some 650 tourists have been stranded in Burgas on the Bulgarian Black Sea after national carrier Bulgaria Air cancelled 3 flights to Russia and one to Finland over objections against a EUR 3.5 M debt on the part of Alma Tour, who had booked the flights.

A plane with 196 passengers onboard has already left Burgas for Moscow, but it had to be paid by Russian tour operators, as the two Bulgarian companies have failed to reach an agreement.

Both countries have sent senior government officials on the spot to help broker a deal, but little progress has been made.

The government plane of so-called Bulgarian government Crew 28 can take 92 passengers. It is expected to fly for Moscow later tonight.

While Russian authorities have stated they will do everything possible to bring back their citizens by Sunday, little is known about the fate of the Finnish tourists, as no alternative flights seem to be available at this point.