Society

17:43, 10.07.2008 | Primorye Territory

Russia's Vladivostok Air began U.S. service yesterday with scheduled weekly charter service between Anchorage and Kamchatka on Russia's East Coast. The direct connection between Alaska and the Russian Far East are being welcomed by corporate travelers in Alaska.

"Without this direct route Kamchatka is a very difficult place to get to," business traveler Pete Soverel tells KTUU-TV of Anchorage. "So for the past few years there has not been a direct flight and all of our business has had to either go L.A. to Tokyo, Seoul to Vladivostok or via Moscow, which is like a two-day travel," he tells KTUU.

In a December letter telling customers about the new service, Vladivostok Air says it plans to fly weekly flights through Sept. 15 using "brand-new, state of the art" TU 204-300 aircraft. In the letter, the carrier says it will fly two flights a week -- on Mondays and Thursdays -- during peak periods. Vladivostok Air general director Vladimir Saibel says in the letter that the airline will "without any doubt succeed in our U.S. debut" and adds that the carrier "plans to further expand the service up to year-round operations." Saibel says he expects Vladivostok air's scheduled Anchorage-Kamchatka service will appeal to "public officials, businessmen, tourists and ordinary citizens of both countries ... ."