Natali Tours, one of Russia’s biggest tour operators, has suspended sales of packages to Turkey following the downing of a Russian warplane by the Turkish air force, the company’s president said on Tuesday.

"We have assessed the situation and understand that it can be developing under a most negative scenario," Vladimir Vorobyov told TASS.

"It would be right to stop selling tours [to Turkey] before the circumstances are clarified."

He said the suspension may last for several days but did not give the exact date when the sales could be resumed.