Airline Industry Information - Russia’s Transaero Airlines to operate direct flights to Malaysia

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Transaero Airlines, a Russian airline, has revealed it is to operate direct flights between Moscow and Kuala Lumpur from 2 January 2007, under the terms of a code-sharing agreement with Malaysia Airlines.

The Russian airline will offer eight scheduled flights to begin with, from 2 January until 17 March, according to Malaysia Airlines. Transaero Airlines will use a 230 seater Boeing 767-300 aircraft to fly from Moscow on 2, 13 and 23 January, 3, 13 and 24 February and 6 and 17 March, with the return flights scheduled for the day after the departures.

The flights will be marketed using the MH9055 and MH9056 flight numbers of Malaysia Airlines, as well as Transaero Airlines flight numbers.

Malaysia Airlines did not state why the agreement is initially for only eight flights, but confirmed the number of flights will increase in the future. It said the agreement will enable it to gain more market access in Russia and the former Soviet Union states and help boost tourist arrivals for Malaysia.

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