The airline may start the service no later than March 29, the U.S. Transportation Department said in a decision released Friday. United originally planned to begin the flights from Washington's Dulles Airport on Oct. 26.
United sought the delay earlier this month as U.S. carriers cut flights in response to soaring oil prices. United needed permission to postpone the service to Moscow or risk the losing the route to a competitor. United won the right to serve the route in May.
U.S. airlines are studying Russia, whose economy is soaring on the back on oil prices. American Airlines started nonstop service between Chicago and Moscow in June. Before that, the only U.S. airline with service to Moscow was Delta Air Lines, with flights from New York and Atlanta.
Bloomberg, MT
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