Russia's Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) has reported a 16.5% fall in passenger numbers between January-July, pointing to a weaker rouble and rising employment as key factors for the decline.

The country's economy is presently undergoing its first contraction in ten years and the weakened rouble has made foreign travel less affordable for many Russians.

Last July's summer travel season saw national airline passenger numbers fall by 10.8% to 5.25m compared with last year, although this was 14.% up on June.

The Federal Aviation Agency also acknowledges that many of it airlines are now struggling.