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Firstly, regional office of Rosa Vetrov in co-operation with Aeroflot Don Airlines launches a new charter program to Thessaloniki.
Secondly, Natalie-tours and Sputnik – former co-consolidators, which operated a flight from Rostov-na – Dony to Barcelona last year – will present separate charter programs. Given the new plans, Natalie tours plan to work with Rozovyi Slon (Pink Elephant), while Sputnik intends to co-operate with its Spanish partner. As a result, starting from July the consolidators will realize seven charter flights to Barcelona, unlike last year when four planes from Rostov-na-Dony landed in the city. Travel market players explain their ambitions by the higher demand for Spain and Greece comparing to summer 2005. Thus, Alexander Mkrtchan commented on the situation: ‘tourists are ‘tired’ of Turkey. Therefore, those who can afford traveling will look for alternative destinations’.
However, local market players doubt that a charter flight to Thessaloniki will be a success. ‘Two years ago we had similar experience when launching flights to Tunisia which was not popular with our clients and we had to terminate it’, said Natalia Kosmina, General Director of Seven Wonders of the World Travel Company. Furthermore, local market experts do not express enthusiasm towards flights to Barcelona pointing out that even last year four flights were not fully loaded.
Meanwhile, one more factor might prevent charter programs to both destinations from success: visa problem. According to unaccredited sources, the Consulates of the countries declined a considerable number of applications from Rostov-na-Dony tourists without a reason. There is an opinion that the situation is provoked by a great number of the Chechen Republic representatives in the city.
