First regular flight in three years of pandemic linked China and the Russian Far East

Hainan Airlines has launched flights from Harbin to Khabarovsk and back. The launch of regular flights after three years of the pandemic has been made possible by the easing of anti-epidemic measures. This route is much shorter and cheaper than via Moscow.

To enter China, all that is needed is a negative COVID-19 test no more than 48 hours before departure. This has opened the borders for citizens not only of China, but also Russia.

"Foreign carriers on international routes actually never flew to us after the pandemic. There were quite few of them even before the pandemic. Therefore, it is really quite a big, significant step in the development and restoration of communication between Russia and China", - said Yuri Kondratchik, General Director of JSC "International Airport Khabarovsk".

Previously, flights to China were only from Moscow. Now, it is easier, faster and almost half the price. For this reason, the first regular flight from Khabarovsk to Harbin brought together citizens of both countries from almost the entire Far East.

"Only one flight per week has been allowed because of the covid situation. Of course, if the flight shows its profitability, there are plans to increase the flight frequency. For the first flight in just a couple of weeks one third of tickets from China have been sold, the return load is almost full", said Zhang Tie, general manager of Hainan Airlines Moscow office.

Passenger border crossings are operating in other Far East regions as well. For example, the first delegation of Chinese entrepreneurs in three years crossed the Hunchun-Kraskino checkpoint in Primorye Territory. In Transbaikalia, 35 people have already left Russia for China.

The Chinese are received without restrictions in both directions. So far Russians can enter China only with work, family or study visas. Experts believe that the flow of tourists will recover by the summer, as reported by CGTN, a partner of TV BRICS.

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