Georgia has given a green light to Russian airline S7 to run direct charter flights between Moscow and Tbilisi, a Georgian transport administration spokesman said on Monday.
"We have received an official letter notifying of the receipt of permission for flights, but it did not give information as to the flight timetable," the spokesman said.
"We have given the relevant permission in written form but it only concerns charter flights," he added. "At this point we are waiting for a letter with the flight timetable, which will be discussed."
According to S7, it received permission for 12 flights in the period up to July 1.
Private airline Airzena Georgian Airways began charter flights between Tbilisi and Moscow on May 24, after receiving Russian permission for flights until the beginning of November.
However, the fragile agreement was dealt a blow last week when Abkhazian President Sergei Bagapsh said direct flights between Moscow and Sukhumi could be restored in early July. Abkhazia was recognized by Russia in August 2008 but Georgia continues to regard it as a breakaway territory.
Direct Russian-Georgian flights were suspended in 2006 amid sour relations between the two countries. Air travel was restored for a short time in 2008, but halted after the military conflict in August 2008 between Russia and Georgia over the former Georgian republic of South Ossetia.
TBILISI, June 7 (RIA Novosti)
