The Russian Foreign Ministry has send notes to Chinese authorities urging them to help hundreds of Russian tourists, stranded in Beijing airports amid air traffic disruptions in Europe, a Foreign Ministry spokesman has said.
Russia has not closed its airspace over a volcanic ash cloud which halted air traffic across Europe. Air China, however, has cancelled all flights from Beijing to Europe, including Moscow, leaving hundreds of Russians stranded. Russian airline Aeroflot is still running.
The stranded tourists received no help from Chinese air companies, who said the air disruption was not their fault and so tourists' financial losses are not their responsibility. Their group tourist visas have expired.
"We have sent relevant notes to the foreign ministry and China's state tourism department. Visa issues are being resolved with Beijing's public security department. Consular Division employees are working on a regular basis at the Beijing airport," Andrei Nesterenko told the Russia 24 channel late on Monday.
The number of Russian tourists in Beijing is constantly changing, some are able to leave the city on Aeroflot planes. The Russian airline's prices have rocketed from $600-700 per ticket to $2,000.
A cloud of ash from an eruption on the Eyjafjallajokull Glacier in Iceland, which began on April 14, has disabled air traffic throughout central and northern Europe, leaving thousands of travelers stranded and forcing more than 20 European countries to close their airspace.
MOSCOW, April 20 (RIA Novosti)
