The air traffic volume on the Tunisian destination, according to experts, might reach the level of the season 2005 – 3,500 seats per week. However, at the moment it is 2,600 seats per week. The air traffic will increase if a range of consolidators will launch the announced flights starting from the beginning of June. Thus, Megapolus Aviacharter plan to add the third charter program by Atlant-Soyuz IL-86 starting from June 4th. Besides, ICS Travel Group intends to consolidate the charter program by IL-86 of the same airline. Meanwhile, on June 1st a charter program by consolidated by STC Rossia will be operated by Fenek Air TU-154. Moreover, CAPITAL TOUR has operated three flights per week by Transaero Boeing-747 since the beginning of May.
Meanwhile, current air traffic volume might result into the scenario of last year when the excess of flights to Tunisia was eliminated by the reduction of 1,000 seats per weeks. Thus, Alexander Tugolukov, Director of Biblio-globus, said: ‘at the moment there is no increase in demand for Tunisia’. ‘May was marked with the stable situation, good balance of air traffic and demand and satisfying sales depth. Therefore, the growth in air traffic volume might have a negative impact on the market’, explained Anna Podgornaya, Sales Director of Pegas Touristik.
Furthermore, the consolidators themselves do not exclude the possibility of excess of flights. For example, Galina Gorshkova, Charter Flights General Director Deputy of CAPITAL TOUR, commented as follows: ‘at the beginning of July we expect a drop in demand for Tunisia owing the increase in accommodation rates. Therefore, we will have to cancel some flights’. On the other hand, some travel market players hope to realize their ambitious plans pointing out the peculiarities of Tunisia. Thus, Natalia Margolina, the Head of the Tunisian Department of ICS Travel Group, stated: ‘the Tunisian destination is a non-visa country. Besides, there are many attractive offers from the hotels. Wavelike demand is typical for the destination’.
