Tourists From Novosibirsk Will Fly By Airbuses

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   Travel market players interviewed by a BANKO correspondent forecast an excess of flights from Novosibirsk to summer destinations due to the monopolist policy of Sibir Airlines.
   According to experts, only airbuses A-310 were offered to local touroperating companies for international charter programs. Before, travel companies could also use Tu-154 and IL-86 reducing their financial risks by using different capacity aircraft depending on the demand level.
   As a result touroperators have to adapt to recent rules set by the Airline Company as otherwise they would have to send their tourists via different cities thus converting into agents. Oleg Timokhin, Director of Grand Tour, made the following example: ‘last year once in two weeks a flight to Croatia was realized from Novosibirsk by TU-154 (120seats). This season A-310 will fly instead of Tu-154, that will double a number of seats. Consequently, it may result in excess of flights’.
   Meanwhile, touroperators doubt other Airlines entering the market especially after Kras Air – the main competitor of Sibir – failed to launch its flights from the city. Director of Glarus Tour, Yuri Chuikov, commented on the situation: ‘last year we announced a charter program to Monastir by Kras Air. A massive advertising campaign was held but the contract was not signed. This year we start fly by Sibir from June 9th’. Moreover, he pointed out lack of interest of airlines in Novosibirsk due to the low tourist flow – 20,000 tourists – which can not be compared to a number of tourists from Ekaterinburg – 150, 000.