SINGAPORE Changi Airport has begun a twice-weekly service operated by Vladivostok Air between Singapore and Vladivostok via Hong Kong to make this ninth new city link from Changi following an increase in air traffic in first eight months of 2011 of 34 per cent.

    The service will deploy Airbus A320 in a two-class configuration on Tuesday and Friday mornings from Vladivostok International Airport at local times of 1045 hrs via Hong Kong at 1440 hrs with departure 1220 hrs to arrive in Changi Airport at 1820 hrs the same day. The return flight will depart Changi at 2010 hrs and arrive in Hong Kong 0130 hrs to arrive in Vladivostock the following morning at 0920 hrs.

    Since the launch of the Russia-Singapore Business Forum (RSBF) in 2006, bilateral trade between the two countries has more than doubled to reach S$5.2 billion (US$4.08 billion) in 2010, according to International Enterprise (IE) Singapore.

    With several Singapore-based companies already establishing inroads to the Russian Far East, Changi's new connection to Vladivostok will stimulate further business links between Singapore and Vladivostok as well as the greater Primorsky Krai region - the largest economy in the Russian Far East, said a statement from the airport.

    Said Changi vice president Yam Kum Weng: "With the introduction of world-class tourism offerings in Singapore, we are seeing more Russian visitors twinning Singapore with another south east Asian destination to create fun-filled "city-plus-beach" holiday experiences," such as Bintan, Bali and Phuket.

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