Ekaterinburg and Paris Expect Resumption of Direct Flights

22.05.2009 — News

THE SVERDLOVSK OBLAST.

The Sverdlovsk Oblast authorities intend to have the direct flights between Ekaterinburg and Paris resumed. That was declared following the results of the two-day visit of Jean de Gliniasty, the Ambassador of France to Russia, to the region on 22 May.

Ural Airlines stopped running services to Paris in 2006 due to lack of demand. During the 2009 New Year holiday period the carrier offered two charter flights to the capital of France but was unable to launch the scheduled flight announced to start on 20 January.

Holiday breaks in France are very popular amongst the people of the Sverdlovsk Oblast. The French Consulate in Ekaterinburg issued nearly 1,300 visas monthly in 2008; this year the number has grown to 1,600 regardless of the crisis.

Ural Airlines informed RusBusinessNews that this route may become popular once the financial situation stabilises, then the company will consider the option of resuming the service. If they offer flexible tariff policy the direct connection to Paris has a good future. At present the majority of tourists and businessmen from the Urals travel to Paris via Prague, Czech Airlines offer scheduled service between Ekaterinburg and Prague. The second most popular route via Kaliningrad is offered by KD-avia. Finally, some passengers choose to fly with Aeroflot via Moscow.

According to the tour operators' opinion, given the price of 400 to 500 Euro for a round-trip ticket the direct service of Ural Airlines may compete well with other carriers' services requiring flight change. For their part, tour operators will support this route as it has a great potential.