Russian airline begins ticket sales for new Pyongyang-Moscow air route: report
Passengers of Russian Nordwind Airlines queue in front of check-in desks at Sheremetyevo International Airport outside Moscow, Russia, July 17. EPA-Yonhap
Russian airline Nordwind has begun selling tickets for flights on the newly authorized direct route between the capitals of North Korea and Russia, according to a Russian news report.
The Russian budget carrier is scheduled to operate its first flight from Moscow to Pyongyang on July 27, with ticket prices starting at 44,600 rubles ($566.50), the Russian news agency Tass reported Friday.
The new air route follows Russian aviation authorities' recent approval of Nordwind's request last month to operate direct flights between Pyongyang and Moscow twice a week.
Tass said the flight will take about eight hours and will be operated by a Boeing 777-200ER, with the first return flight to Moscow expected July 29.
Currently, North Korea and Russia have direct flights only between Pyongyang and Vladivostok.