Summer Charter Flights to Brescia and Verona

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   The increase interest of Italians in launching a summer charter chain from Moscow to the north of Italy – to the airports of Verona and Brescia which are 50 kilometers far from each other - has been recently discussed behind the scenes of the travel market. On January 31st top managers of consortium of airports Del Garda – Umberto Solimeno, the Commercial Director, and Fulvio Cavalieri, the President, arrived to Moscow. In the interview to a BANKO correspondent Solimeno stated the following: ‘we are interested in the Russian travel market, realizing the positive dynamics of passenger flow growth. In 2005 265, 000 Russian tourists arrived to the two airports – approximately 8% of the total passengers flow. However, at the moment the biggest tourist flow is in winter, therefore we plan to organize a summer charter program’.
   Assessing the perspectives of summer flights to Verona and Brescia, Russian experts point out both advantages and disadvantages of the Italian initiative.
    For example, Evgenia Konkol, General Director of Spectrum travel Company, said: ‘both airports have been working with Russia thus a certain way of cooperation has been formed already’. Meanwhile, Alexander Sorokin, President of PAK Group, added: 'Besides, they are close to Venice and Milan’. Evgenia Konkol, outlined one more important detail: ‘According to intergovernmental agreement between Russia and Italy’, there are strict quotas only for Roma, Milan and Venice airports. No restrictions have been implemented to Verona and Brescia flights to where could satisfy the demand for the destination that is depressed by limitation of number of flights to the main airports of the country.
   Nevertheless, experts also mention the factors that go against the Italian initiative. ‘The tourist summer programs of the region, in particular, the lakes, is not promoted enough on the Russian market to launch charter flights to there’, believes Maxim Pristavko, Commercial Director of Jet Travel. Furthermore, Alexander Sorokin, focused on the following fact: ‘In summer Verona and Brescia lose to neighboring Triest and Trevisa which are within the Adriatic sea zone. For example, to get to the sea from Verona, you need to go along the most crowded part of A4 highway, known for its car jams. It is not the best competitive advantage’. Besides, according to Evgenia Konkol, airports capacity is to be considered: ‘they receive many charters from Europe and Scandinavia and all convenient slots are closed already. And the airport of Verona is quite small and old’. According to experts, Brescia airport is more modern and well equipped. But the city itself is less popular than Verona.
    Arguing all pro and cons, the majority of experts, who participated in the discussion about the plans of Italian representatives, evaluate their chances on the Russian travel market as fifty-fifty.