First Russian flight arrives in İstanbul amid virus

The first flight from the Russian capital Moscow to Turkey arrived in İstanbul early on Saturday as flights between the two countries resumed amid the novel coronavirus.

All the passengers, mostly Russian nationals, arrived at İstanbul Airport on a flight of Turkey's flag carrier, Turkish Airlines.

Most of them were wearing masks as they passed through thermal cameras to check their body temperatures.

One of the passengers, Maslennikova Dilyara from Moscow, said she came to Turkey for a 12-day holiday.

Dilyara said she would travel to the Cappadocia region -- a UNESCO World Heritage site -- in central Turkey after her time in İstanbul.

"We're very happy to be in İstanbul," she said.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova announced on July 24 that flights to İstanbul and the capital Ankara would resume on Aug. 1.

Service to the coastal resort destinations of Antalya, Bodrum and Dalaman will follow on Aug. 10.

Russia had suspended all international air traffic on March 27 in an effort to stem the spread of COVID-19 and is now implementing normalization efforts to ease precautions amid improving numbers.