The inaugural flight is scheduled to depart from Sheremetyevo International Airport at 7 pm local time and will be operated by a Boeing 777-200ER, with a seating capacity of 440 passengers. Russian state media reported that tickets, priced at 44,700 roubles (approximately $563), sold out swiftly.
Russian carrier Nordwind Airlines, has received approval from Rosaviatsia, the country’s civil aviation authority, to operate the route twice a week. However, the transport ministry has stated that the flights will initially run once a month to assess and gradually build passenger demand.
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The new service adds to the limited transport links between the two nations, which until recently included only rail connections and occasional Air Koryo flights between Pyongyang and Vladivostok in Russia’s Far East. Passenger rail services between Moscow and Pyongyang, that takds around ten days, resumed last month after an extended hiatus.
The renewed air connectivity showcases the growing relationship between Russia and North Korea following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The two nations, once Cold War-era allies, have been increasingly aligning as both face isolation from Western powers.
North Korea has openly expressed support for Russia’s actions in Ukraine. Earlier this month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged his country’s “unconditional support” for Moscow’s position on the conflict. Meanwhile, reports from Kyiv and Western intelligence sources accused Pyongyang of supplying arms and munitions, including artillery shells and ballistic missiles, to assist Russian forces, however, both countries have denied the allegations.
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Observers note that the revival of direct air links could facilitate further exchanges between the two governments and signal broader cooperation in areas such as trade, tourism, and military support.
(Edited by : Jerome Anthony)
