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Russian airlines to open regular direct flights to Taiwan

Regular routes to Vladivostok and Moscow will begin later in May

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(Screen capture from Royal Flight's Facebook page: https://bit.ly/300kuwX)

(Screen capture from Royal Flight's Facebook page: https://bit.ly/300kuwX)

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Two Russian airlines, S7 Airlines and Royal Flight, will launch direct flights between Russia and Taiwan at the end of May, Taiwan’s aviation authorities said on Monday (May 6).

S7 Airlines, also known as PJSC Siberia Airlines, will open regular flights between Vladivostok, an eastern city of Russia, and Taoyuan International Airport starting May 24.

A weekly flight will be operated by an Airbus A320, which will take off from Taipei at 5:30 p.m. and arrive in Vladivostok at 11:15 p.m.

Royal Flight will open its weekly direct flight between Moscow and Taiwan from May 25. The flight will be operated by a Boeing 767-300 model.

The 10.5-hour weekly flight will take off from Taoyuan International Airport at 5:00 p.m. and land in Moscow at 10:00 p.m.

This is the first time for S7 Airlines to introduce direct flights to Taiwan, while Royal Flight has provided charter flights between Russia and Taiwan over the past few years, according to Taiwan’s Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA).

The new routes reflect the government’s plans to attract tourists from “high-latitude countries,” reported Central News Agency.

Currently, the Taiwan government grants 14-day visa-waiver treatment to Russian passport holders traveling to Taiwan. The trial program began on September 6, 2018 and will last through July 31 this year.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry said at that time it would consider prolonging the visa-free program depending on its effectiveness.