Taiwan's biggest carrier, China Airlines Co (
If approved, the services could mark a big step forward in Taiwan's efforts to improve relations with Russia, said the official at the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Like most major nations, Russia recognizes Taiwan's rival, China, which claims the island is part of Chinese territory.
China Airlines wanted to start the charter service this month, but Russia hasn't responded, the official said.
A Chinese-language newspaper reported Taiwan's representative office in Russia as saying that China Airlines will operate a chartered service between the two capitals beginning in late August.
But China Airlines' officials wouldn't confirm or deny the report, saying only that the service date was ``mere speculation.''
Taiwan and Russia started discussing an aviation agreement in 1993 and signed a draft agreement in 1997, the official said.
Under the draft treaty, which both have failed to finalize to date, China Airlines and Russia's fourth largest air carrier, Transaero Airlines, would each provide three direct passenger flights a week, the official said.
Taiwan's latest bid to expand its air links comes after the nation renewed an air pact with Hong Kong in June. But China Airlines didn't gain more flights from the pact due to a fatal May crash in the Taiwan Strait.
The accident, still under investigation, killed all 225 aboard. Because of the accident, China Airlines isn't allowed to operate any new, regular flights for a year.
But the Moscow service is a special case, the government official said. China Airlines would like to operate the 10-hour direct service only during the summer season, or from May to September, according to the official.
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