China Beats Turkey in The Novosibirsk Market

[IMG=20621-6407]Drop in demand for Turkey in July affected air traffic volume from Novosibirsk to the main Turkish destinations - Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman, Izmir. As a result, all 250 – seat Airbus-310 were changed to less capacious 200-seat Airbus. Besides, changes were adopted to the frequency of flights to Dalaman – instead of weekly flights, at the moment flights are operated once in two weeks. Frequency of flights remained the same to Izmir and Bodrum – once in 14 days – and to Antalya from Novosibirsk – flights are operated twice a week. However, according to Yury Chuikov, General Director of Glarus – tour, at the moment it is difficult to supply such volumes. Other experts of the Novosibirsk market agree explaining the situation by the following factors. Firstly, Vera Petrova, Sales Director of Globus – tour, said that additional flights to Turkey from Barnaul affected air traffic volume from Novosibirsk as before tourists from that region flied from Novosibirsk. Besides, a charter to Tunisia partly attracted potential ‘Turkish’ tourists’. Experts point out a launch of flights to Tunisia operated by S7 Airlines Airbus – 310 once in two weeks turned out to be a success – they are 100% booked. Secondly, local travel market players emphasize the increased interest in China that previously was not in such demand in summer. ‘Every week 5 scheduled flights by S7 Airlines are operated to Beijing and 4 flights – to Urunqi. In general tourist flow to China from Novosibirsk has increased by around 35 %’, explained Petrova. Besides, sometimes tours to China turn out to be less expensive than tours to Turkey. Thus, a 7-day tour to Beijing with accommodation in a 4* costs around $400, while the same tour to Turkey is offered for around $800. Furthermore, Ludmila Romanova, General Director of Polar Star, stated as follows: ‘China prolonged non-visa regime for groups of more than 5 people until 2007 that also attracts tourists’. In general tour operators consider the current season to be a success. However, they pointed out that many people in the region preferred not to travel at all owing the airplane crash in Irkutsk. Ludmila Romanova, explained: ‘in our region the leading airline is S7 Airlines that mainly operates flights by А-310 that leaves no alternative options. People, remembering of airplane crash are afraid to fly by Airbuses of this airline’.