MOSCOW, August 26. /ITAR-TASS/. Russian airlines Aeroflot and Transaero are thought to be main contenders in biddings to secure a wider network of international destinations routed from Moscow.

They line up against rivals for services to Krabi, Phuket and Bangkok in Thailand, Chambery and Grenoble in France, and Naples and Milan in Italy.

State officials will decide on the winners in Moscow on August 28. Aeroflot, Russia's flag carrier, and Transaero are reckoned front-runners for recording the highest percentage of flights made without delays.