We report that gas phase plasma-assisted non-oxidative methane coupling can lead to formation of ethylene as major product at similar to 20% yield per pass. This is attained by using a nanosecond pulsed discharge (NPD) reactor, featuring rapid product quenching rates, ( recyclable) hydrogen co-feeding (CH1: H-2 = 1: 1) and elevated pressures (5 bar) at which NPD is ignited.