[IMG=19422-5159] |
Meanwhile, travel market players forecast the excess of flights to Malta. ‘Ups and downs in demand are not typical for the Maltese destination. Besides, there is a shortage of hotel base in Malta’, commented Irina Denina, the Head of Mediterranean Department of Solvex-Travel.
Furthermore, travel market players explain the situation by the fact that Russian companies plan to compete with Air Malta which use inconvenient slots this year – at 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. while a year ago Air Malta realized flights on 12.30 a.m. and 1.30 a.m. Such a schedule does not meet the requirements of the target group of Russian travel companies – children who go to Malta to study English.
As for consolidators, they are more optimistic towards the demand for their charter programs. ‘Frankly, we were surprised by the decision of our colleague, Trio-tours. However, if they decided to launch their own charter program they know what they do’, stated Elena Nekrasova, the head of Consol. Meanwhile, Marina Kreimer, General director of Trio-tours, said to a BANKO correspondent that they do not doubt the success of the flights due to ‘undisputable demand for tickets’.
Nevertheless, experts believe that the current situation will result into negotiations between the consolidators. ‘If there is no demand, two charter flights might lead to pricing wars and instability of the destination’, said Vyacheslav Ilyushin, Commercial director of Atlant - Soyuz.