Turkish Airlines (TK, Istanbul Airport) and other Turkish carriers have been given unlimited access to the Russian Black Sea resort town of Sochi beginning this coming winter season. Following extensive talks between Turkish and Russian aviation officials earlier this month, the two countries agreed to revise their Bilateral Air Services Agreement culminating in the following announcement.
"Any operations of Turkish carriers to the point of Sochi could be without any limitations, including 5th Freedom Traffic Rights for three IATA Seasons, beginning from the IATA Winter Season 2014-15," a joint declaration stated.
Currently, Turkish Airlines serves Sochi from Istanbul Atatürk while Pegasus Airlines (PC, Istanbul Sabiha Gökcen) offers flights from Trabzon.
Located on the Black Sea coast near the border between Georgia/Abkhazia and Russia, it is the country's largest resort city attracting both Russian and foreign tourists.
