Hungarian low-fare carrier Wizz Air has won a state tender to operate a direct flight between Budapest and the Russian city of Kazan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto announced at a joint press conference with the airline’s CEO Jozsef Varadi.

The flight will operate on Wednesdays and Sundays from the end of October, Mr Szijjarto said. Hungary has been in talks with Russia on launching the service since 2015, he added.

He noted that Tatarstan is an important export market for Hungarian farm products.

Wizz Air also announced on Monday the expansion of its service between Budapest and Tirgu Mures, Romania, from two flights a week to a flight every day.

Mr Szijjarto said the launch of daily service between the destinations from October would raise the number of seats on the flights from an annual 38,000 to 132,000.

Mr Varadi said flying more frequently to Tirgu Mures would support tourism and business travel.

He added that Kazan is Wizz Air’s third destination in Russia.