PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY, May 29 (Itar-Tass) — Russia’s Far-Eastern airline Yakutia has received an official endorsement from the Russian and U.S. national aviation authorities to begin regular passenger flights between Anchorage, Alaska, and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the administrative center of the Kamchatka territory, the press service of the territorial government said Tuesday.
Flights will be made Thursdays from July 12 through to September 13 by Boeing-737 jets. A return trip will cost starting with 36,800 rubles /USD 1=RUB 29.5/
Direct flights between Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and Anchorage have been made in the past, too, but they were cancelled in 2005 due to their unprofitability.
At present, however, the demand for them has grown considerably. Apart from business purposes, the number of Kamchatkan students getting one or another type of training in the U.S. has increased, and officials in the territorial government believe a resumption of direct flights is quite justified in this situation.
“The launching of Petropavlovsk-Anchorage-Petropavlovsk flights will facilitate development of international tourism in the Kamchatka territory and will build up the attractiveness of our region,” Investment and Entrepreneurship Minister Oksana Gerassimova said