Transaero opens direct air service St.Petersburg-Tokyo

Transaero opens direct air service St.Petersburg-Tokyo

25.04.2008, 11.55

NARITA, April 25 (Itar-Tass) - The Russian Transaero company has opened direct air service between St. Petersburg and Japan. A first flight carrying 200 passengers, who were mostly Japanese citizens, took off from Narita international airport in Tokyo on Friday.

A few hours earlier the same flight airlifted to Japan a high-ranking delegation from Russia headed by St. Petersburg Governor Valentina Matviyenko. On Friday afternoon the Russian delegation will continue work at a Tokyo conference on the strategy of the development of business contacts between St.Petersburg and Japan. Russia's contacts with Japan have become considerably stronger in recent years, prominent Japanese investors are coming to St. Petersburg, Matviyenko told journalists. The direct air service with Tokyo will help promote contacts in the business and cultural fields, the St. Petersburg governor said.

At present, around 40 companies with Japanese investments have been operating in St. Petersburg, including Toyota, Nissan, Suzuki, and possibilities have been studied for opening an office of the Tokyo Bank of Mitsubishi UFJ.