Moscow: Russian airline Nordwind has initiated ticket sales for its newly approved direct flight route connecting the capitals of North Korea and Russia, according to a recent report from a Russian news outlet.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Nordwind, a budget carrier, is set to launch its inaugural flight from Moscow to Pyongyang on July 27, with ticket prices starting at 44,600 rubles (US$566.50). The Russian news agency Tass reported that the new air route was sanctioned by Russian aviation authorities last month, allowing Nordwind to operate direct flights between Pyongyang and Moscow twice weekly.

Tass further detailed that the flight will take approximately eight hours and will be serviced by a Boeing 777-200ER. The first return flight to Moscow is scheduled for July 29. Presently, direct flights between North Korea and Russia are limited to the Pyongyang-Vladivostok route.