Aeroflot Plans Special Flights to Evacuate Russians From US, Maldives for 7-8 April

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia's flag carrier Aeroflot will conduct special flights to repatriate Russians from the United States and the Maldives on Tuesday and Wednesday, the airline said on Tuesday.

"Aeroflot plans special flights for April 7-8 to return Russian citizens from New York and Male [capital of the Maldives]", the company said.

Three airplanes on 7 April departed from Bangkok with over 800 Russian nationals on board headed for Moscow, St. Petersburg and Novosibirsk, a Sputnik correspondent has said.

National carrier Aeroflot is airlifting 421 passengers to Moscow and 187 to St. Petersburg while Siberian airline S7 is transporting 200 passengers to Novosibirsk, flight records shared with Sputnik show.

The Russians became stranded in the country after the nation’s coronavirus response centre last week issued a blanket ban on rescue flights, which was partially lifted on Monday.

Earlier in the day, a plane from Tokyo landed in Vladivostok with Russian nationals on board.