In late February, Russia and Georgia reached an agreement to resume flights, halted in October 2006, once Tbilisi had repaid its $3.7 million debt to Russia's State Air Traffic Management Corporation (Rosaeronavigatsia). On March 10, Georgia's largest air carrier paid $2 million as part repayment of the debt.
The transport ministry website confirmed the debt issue had been settled and flights would be resumed from March 25.
A source in Russia's aviation told RIA Novosti that Aeroflot and S7 will be the airlines picked to fly between the two countries.
"Aeroflot and S7 will definitely be selected on that route. Other Russian companies have not been considered so far," he said.
Moscow imposed a transportation and postal blockade on Georgia in October 2006 in an apparent retaliation for the detention on espionage charges of four Russian army officers.
Russian officials cited commercial reasons, while Tbilisi called the move politically motivated.
