OREANDA-NEWS China Southern Airlines has canceled flights from Moscow to Beijing since the end of January, the Association of Russian Tour Operators said in a statement.

"According to information on the airline's website and in booking systems, this company does not have direct flights between the Russian and Chinese capitals (to be operated under the number CZ342 daily) from January 20 to March 30, until the end of the winter schedule and just for the period of the Chinese New Year," ATOR said.

They clarified that tickets for the last China Southern flight, scheduled for January 19, cost more than 217 thousand rubles. The association called this a "barrier" price, since other airlines offer flights on this day for 30-70 thousand one way.

It is noted that such a sharp rise in price also occurs on the eve of the Chinese New Year.

ATOR believes that it is about the temporary suspension of China Southern flights from Moscow to Beijing. Nevertheless, it may affect the plans of 15-17 thousand people, taking into account the capacity of the liners and the regularity of flights. Those who chose this airline to fly to third countries with a connection in the Chinese capital faced difficulties.

Tour operators, in turn, have already started transferring customers to other flights. So far, this applies to several dozen people, but over time their number will grow, because "the cancellation process has just begun."

According to experts, China Southern's decision may be related to internal reasons of the airline and the revision of the route network due to mass trips by Chinese citizens themselves during the Chinese New Year.