Krasnodar international airport has welcomed the launch of a new route between Krasnodar-Thessaloniki.

The inaugural Thessaloniki-bound flight left earlier, marking the start of regular air links between Russia’s southern city and Greece.

Ellinair performed the first direct Krasnodar-Thessaloniki flight.

The airline will perform three flights on June 9th, 20th and 29th on-board Boeing 737-300.

Over 1,500 tourists are expected to travel to Greece from Krasnodar during the upcoming summer season.

Following a suspension in air service with Egypt and Turkey, Greece now ranks as a number one foreign resort destination among Russian vacationers.

Over three million Russian tourists are expected to visit the country during a summer season in 2016.

Russian carrier Ural Airlines performed Thessaloniki and Athens-bound regular and charter flights from Krasnodar in 2015.

Russia’s Nordwind and Royal Flight also performed Heraklion and Rhodes-bound flights.