British Airways, Aeroflot Launch a New Carrier

British Airways on Friday announced a deal with the Soviet airline Aeroflot to create a new international carrier called Air Russia.

Plans are for service to begin in 1994 but routes have not been selected, British Airways said.

In signing the deal, the British carrier jumped ahead of its American rivals to create a hub in a huge and potentially lucrative travel market of 280 million people.

It said Air Russia, to be based in Moscow, will serve Europe, North America and the Far East with a fleet of new Boeing 767-300 extended-range aircraft. British Airways said it is getting a 31% stake in Air Russia in exchange for a $34-million investment.

The deal is the first of its kind.

Other airlines that serve the Soviet Union include Pan American World Airways, Lufthansa, Swissair, Austrian Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Finnair. Also Alaska Airlines flies three times a week to Siberia.