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Air Berlin to Stop Flights to Russia

Air Berlin had already reduced routes to the country this year.

Air Berlin, the budget German airline, will end flights to and from Russia next year, becoming the latest international carrier to stop flying to the country amid a slump in demand.

Airlines including EasyJet, Air France and Cathay Pacific have either curtailed or terminated routes into and out of Russia during the last 18 months as a weak ruble and deepening recession saw passenger numbers ebb.

Air Berlin had already reduced routes to the country this year, but the company said in a statement to The Moscow Times on Thursday that due to the drop in demand it had "decided to cancel all remaining flights to and from Russia — meaning flights from Dusseldorf to Moscow as well as from Berlin to Moscow and Kaliningrad."

The last flight from Moscow to Berlin will be on Jan. 18, 2016, the company added. It did not say when other routes would be discontinued.

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