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No starting date for direct air links with Russia set

Minister of Transportation and Communications Lin Ling-san (林陵三) said yesterday that no problems exist in terms of implementing direct air links between Taiwan and Russia, but when such services will be launched is not yet known.

Lin said knew nothing about recent Chinese-language newspaper reports that air links are scheduled to begin May 26.

Lin reiterated that the two countries initiated aviation talks in 1993 and that progress was limited until recent years when the government pushed for a breakthrough.

China Airlines (CAL) and Rus-sia's Transaero took the initiative on the matter by exchanging one chartered flight each last year, Lin said.

Lin said CAL is engaged in talks with the Russian government on a formal cooperation agreement on direct air links. As soon as the foreign ministries of the two countries sign an official agreement, the ministry will publicly announce the opening of the air links, he said.

CAL officials, meanwhile, declined to confirm a date for the opening of direct air links.

According to Civil Aeronautics Administration Director-General Chang Kuo-cheng, if everything goes smoothly, the direct air links are expected to be formally inaugurated in April or May.

A direct flight from Taipei to Moscow would take about 11 hours -- two to three hours less than flying via Hong Kong.
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