Direct commercial flights between Tel Aviv and Moscow — operated by the state-run El Al and Aeroflot airline — are likely to begin early next year, under an agreement in principle reached in Moscow on Wednesday between directors of the two airlines.
The service would begin with one flight a week operated by each of the airlines, increasing in frequency later as traffic warrants. Flight time will be about three-and-a-half hours and cost about $400.
The El Al-Aeroflot flights would service the growing number of Soviet citizens, mainly Jews, coming to Israel on one- to three-month visits, as well as new immigrants.
Soviet authorities had indicated last year that potential traffic between the two countries did not warrant the operation of regular flights. But the experience of flights between Ben-Gurion Airport in Israel and Budapest and Romania has apparently made them change their minds now.
Israel hopes the direct service will increase the number of immigrants and reduce the dropout rate.
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