Russian Federal Air Transport Agency Rosaviatsia has given a green light to Russian S7 Airlines to run regular flights between Moscow and Tbilisi.

Direct Russian-Georgian flights were suspended in 2006 amid sour relations between the two countries. Air travel was restored for a short time in 2008, but halted when the August 2008 conflict broke out between Russia and Georgia over the former Georgian republic of South Ossetia.

Moscow and Tbilisi gave permission for the resumption of scheduled flights after they allowed a number direct charter flights between the two capitals earlier in the year.

S7's press service said the airline was seeing feverish demand for tickets on the route, with the first flight scheduled for August 23.

The Russian carrier will make the flights along with Georgian Airways on equal basis. In the 2010 summer season each company will fly between Moscow and Tbilisi three times a week, S7's press service said.

"S7 Airlines will conduct flights to Tbilisi on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays by Airbus A319 aircraft. The departure time for flights from Moscow is 10:25 Moscow Time (06:25 GMT), the departure time from Tbilisi is 14:00 local time (10:00 GMT)," S7 said in a statement.

The Russian air carrier said it will consider the resumption of the flights to Georgian cities of Kutaisi and Batumi.

MOSCOW, August 18 (RIA Novosti)