A Boeing 747-400 aircraft operated by Russia's second largest airline, Transaero, landed on Tuesday in Rio-de-Janeiro establishing a direct link with Moscow for the first time in many years.
The plane carrying 303 passengers took off on January 3 from Moscow Domodedovo airport and spent a total of 12 hours and 30 min in the air.
Russian airlines have not served the Latin American market since the mid-1990s when Aeroflot terminated regular flights to Brazil, Chile and Argentina.
Transaero will initially carry out one direct flight from Moscow to Rio per week.
Brazil is a rapidly emerging market for business travel and tourism, with the country hosting the 2014 World Cup, and Rio staging the 2016 Olympic Games.
RIO-DE-JANEIRO, January 4 (RIA Novosti)
