Charters to Russia possible

Russia's Transaero airline company is prepared to operate direct charter flight services to Taiwan, a Transaero official said yesterday. Valery Musaev, manager of Transaero's department of international relations, stressed that this would be a private exchange between the people of Russia and Taiwan and of a purely business nature. Transaero, an affiliate of Russia's national flag-carrier Aeroflot, speeded up its preparations for the opening of direct air links between Russia and Taiwan after China Airlines submitted a request last week for direct charter flight services between Taipei and Moscow. Musaev said preparation work began soon after the two airlines signed an agreement. Musaev added that the air links would not be possible if political issues were involved. Musaev said the earliest the charter flights could begin is in six weeks.