RUSSIA * THE UNITED STATES * AVIATION * CO-OPERATION








MARCH 1 " CONTINENTAL AIRLINES " INAUGURATES a REGULAR LINE NEW YORK -
HONG-CKong VIA NORTH POLE


MOSCOW, March 1.  / Corr.  RIA " Novosti " Edouard POUZYREV /. the
airline americaine " Continental Airlines " A inaugurates on March 1 a
regular line New York has Hong-Kong by borrowing one of the four
itineraires polar cross passing above the Arctic Ocean and the
territory of Russia.




It thus joined several other Canadian companies, in particular
americaines and, which exploit these itineraires since their opening
on February 1.




March 3, a plane of another company americaine, " Delta ", will
accomplish a flight charter towards Asia by the North Pole, let know
the Service of the civil aviation of the ministry for Transport of
Russia.




" the transpolar lines connecting America of North has Asia of
South-east are shortest.  By flying over the territory of Russia, the
planes reduisent the duration of flight of several hours, to say as
much that they consume less fuel and resources technical.  On some
itineraires, the economy can go until A 3000 dollars per flight ", A
explains the spokesman of the Service of the civil aviation.




The services on the ground currently ensure the overflight of the
Russian territory has 2 or 3 foreign planes per hour.  Every 100 km of
flight in the airspace of Russia coOete 50 dollars on average.




The services provided to the airlines etrangeres which use the polar
itineraires cross will pay has Russia until A 18 million dollars per
annum, according to the Service of civil aviation.