Baltia Air Lines, a new US start-up airways plans to buy its first Boeing 747 aircraft.

The airways plans to fly between New York and St Petersburg, Russia, and then expand service to Moscow and cities in the former Soviet Union.

Baltia Air Lines vice president of finance Barry Clare said the airline will start with just one plane and believes it can generate $100m a year in revenue if it can fill that plane nearly two-thirds full on New York to St Petersburg flights.

The company also plans to fly cargo and mail.

Baltia is presently undergoing the FAA certification process, which is expected to be complete by the end of 2009.