Transpolar flights to play major role in development of Russian transport system

The transpolar flight project, using the airspace of Siberia and the FarEast, will be one of the most important aspects of the development ofRussia's transport system. Transport Minister Sergei Frank voiced thisopinion at the Second Baykal Economic Forum in Irkutsk. According to thetransport minister, the number of transpolar flights will grow by severaltimes by 2005. The investments in this project are expected to reach about$200m by 2010, and the revenues are to amount to $300m. Frank pointed out that transpolar flights had a lot of economic advantages.For example, the flight time for the Chicago-Bangkok transpolar route is 4hours less than the normal time for this flight now. .