Turkmenistan Airlines, Ashgabat-based carrier will be banned from transiting Russian airspace with effect from September 19 Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) has announced. Reported by Ch-aviation.com.

The Turkmen carrier has repeatedly failed to settle arrears due to Russia's Federal State Unitary Enterprise "State ATM Corporation" (FSUE SAC) which oversees all air navigation services across the country.

The FSUE SAC says Turkmenistan Airlines must first pay for the services rendered up until August 27, 2016 and then to September 14, 2016. Its total debt is USD220,000.

Aside from affecting Turkmenistan Airlines' Ashgabat to Moscow Domodedovo and St. Petersburgservices, its flights to Minsk National, Birmingham Int'l, and London Heathrow will also be affected.

Turkmenistan Airlines' fleet includes Boeing 777s, 767s, 757s and 737s.

Last year, the carrier had a dispute  with Ukrainian aviation authorities, which led to the Ashgabat-Kiev service being banned.