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As Irina Dannenberg, head of the Aeroflot press-service, told BANKO, ‘the board of directors of the airline company took a strategic decision to establish the branch office in Saint-Petersburg. I cannot talk of any other details, and it is too early to talk about pre-planned routes or prices ’.
However, the press already announced the information that the national airline company is planning flights to European cities from the second capital. Saint Petersburg travel companies happily took this news. ‘Until recently, when Pulkovo was a monopolist, it was that easy for us. We constantly had the lack of air transport and many companies were loosing clients because of it. Recently, when Pulkovo launched charter flights, the situation slightly improved. But anyway the arrival Aeroflot is profitable for many companies. At least once, the assortment of transportation will increase, and therefore prices will be lower.’ – says Elena Bogdanova, general director of ‘Rondo’.
Dmitriy Chetyirnov, director of tour operating company ADM, says: ‘Even now, not having enough information, it is possible to forecast that the event will pick our market up’.
For Moscow companies, particularly those working with entry tourism, the arrival of Aeroflot will be convenient, as many foreigners visiting Russia try to see both capitals. According to Sergey Voytovich, general director of SV Travel Groups’: ‘Many offers compared to western carriers turn out to be nom-competitive, as we have to either offer holiday-makers a train Moscow-Saint-Petersburg-Moscow or book the charter. Although it would be much more convenient both for us and for tourists to fly into Moscow and leave from Saint Petersburg.’
‘Pulkovo’ air company does not yet comment on the intentions of the national carrier.
