Russia's iFly plans Belgrade, Zagreb, Sarajevo service
Russian carrier iFly Airlines has received permits from the country's federal aviation authority Rosaviatsia on Wednesday to launch flights from Sochi to Belgrade, Zagreb and Sarajevo. The company filed an application to operate up to four weekly services from the Black Sea resort city to the three capitals. The airline must now receive approvals from the respective regulators of each of the three countries. Furthermore, it may choose not to exercise its rights. iFly Airlines is a private charter carrier which operates flights on behalf of Tez Tour, Tempus Tour, TUI and Russian travel agency Intourist - Thomas Cook. The fast-growing airline carried 1.1 million passengers last year with its nine-strong fleet of two Airbus A319s and seven A330s.
Founded in 2009, iFly Airlines is under the control of Alexander Burtin, who is also the head of the large travel company Tez Tour. A 9% share of the airline was acquired last spring by Silk Way, which is owned by Hong Kong-based Joy Tour Global Limited. Currently, neither Belgrade, Zagreb or Sarajevo have nonstop flights to Sochi, although Air Serbia codeshares on Aeroflot's services between Moscow and the resort city. Aeroflot also maintains operations between the Russian capital and Zagreb, while there are no flights between Russia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Gazpromavia previously maintained services between Sochi and Belgrade for several years.
 |
| Rosaviatsia approval for iFly services |
The former Yugoslavia is becoming increasingly popular with Russian holidaymakers. Over 130.000 Russian tourists visited Croatia in 2018 with numbers set to rise some 20% this year. "Russian tourists in Croatia mostly stay in Istria, the Split-Dalmatia county and Kvarner. However, our goal is to focus the future growth of Russian arrivals within continental Croatia", the head of the Croatian National Tourist Board, Kristjan Staničić, said. He added, "Russia is an important market for Croatia, with Russian tourists spending 50% more than the average guest". In 2018, 50.000 Russian nationals visited Serbia. The government recently approved funds to subsidise tour operators who bring Russian holidaymaykers to the country. A total of twenty euros is being provided per guest, or thirty euros if they stay over five nights. The tour groups must be made of at least fifteen people to be eligible for the incentives. On the other hand, the number of Russian tourists visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2018 stood at 6.000.
0 Response to "Russia's iFly plans Belgrade, Zagreb, Sarajevo service"
Post a Comment