OREANDA-NEWS. December 28, 2010. A new route from Novosibirsk to Gorno- Altaisk was opened by JSC “Airport Tolmachevo” together with the airline “Angara” and the support of the Republic Altai government and the Administration of Novosibirsk region.

The aircraft AN-24 of the air company “Angara” took off from the airport Novosibirsk (Tolmachevo) to Gorno- Altaisk at 10:35 a.m. local time. The first passengers of this significant flight have been the honorable guests, the representatives of Novosibirsk region government, the representatives of Novosibirsk city administration and the representatives of Intergovernmental association “ Siberian Agreement”.

After 1 hour and 5 minutes the plane landed in the best tourist center of Siberia. Just a short flight time has become an agreeable surprise for all the passengers in comparison with other earlier available means of transportation as buses and cars.

“ It is a remarkable event for Gorno- Altaisk”, noticed the vice-premier of Altai Republic Robert Paltaller. As the regular air communication between Gorno- Altaisk and other cities was interrupted almost 20 years ago, the airport has been accepting only charter flights since then.

N. Simonov, minister of Transport and Roads department of Novosibirsk region has congratulated with the opening of regular communication between Novosibirsk and Gorno- Altaisk: “ This fact of the regular flights operating between Novosibirsk and Gorno- Altaisk is very important for the development of Siberia. For Gorni Altai that means the increasing number of tourists. As predicted, the opening of this route will resulted in the growth of tourists number till 2,5 million and at the same time one third of the holidaymakers is expected to be from Novosibirsk region.

The general director of the JSC “Airport Tolmachevo” Alexander Borodin has noticed in his speech that Gorno- Altaisk has already become the tenth city in the regional route net of the airport Novosibirsk Tolmachevo.

“ Accepted by us strategy of the regional aviation development is being realized successfully both for our enterprise and the Siberian Federal district. For the airport, as for the member of Interregional Association “Siberian Agreement”, the opening of the regular flight to Gorno- Altaisk with the support of the Altai Republic government has become a serious achievement in the strategy of the regional aviation development.

Today, when the flight is considered officially opened, the next important task is to be its popularization among the citizens. It seems surprisingly but many people can’t believe the opening of the regular flight to Gorno- Altaisk. To keep from these doubts the airport Tolmachevo has organized the info-tour for mass media representatives.