Ural Airlines has been allowed to transport only Russian citizens from China via charter flights since February, RIA Novosti reported, citing the air company’s press service.

"According to the decision of the Russian government, Ural Airlines has suspended regular flights to China (01.02.2020). Since that day, the airline has operated only charter flights. The applications have been submitted to the Chinese aviation authorities. According to the authorization, the airline has the right to transport exclusively Russian citizens,” the carried said in a press release.

Separately, Kommersant newspaper reported that around 70 citizens of CIS countries were not allowed to board a Ural Airlines flight at China's Xi'an Xianyang International Airport. 

In a statement on 2 February, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said given the coronavirus outbreak in China, a number of international airlines were gradually limiting their flights from Beijing and other Chinese cities. The ministry advised Armenian citizens in China to contact the given airline in advance to clarify information about the flight.

The ministry said on 1 February Ural Airlines rejected registration of a group of Armenian citizens, who were later compensated for the tickets.

“The Embassy and the Foreign Ministry of Armenia are taking measures to prevent such developments. At the same time, we inform that the Embassy is constantly in contact with all Armenian citizens who have been registered and is responding to all inquiries,” the statement read.

Later the Foreign Ministry said that Armenian citizen Susanna Aghajanyan had been evacuated from Wuhan and transported to Kazakhstan upon her own request as a result of cooperation with the Kazakh authorities.