Air tickets for flights from Russia to the UAE have jumped in price. They now sell for nine times the price and are therefore unaffordable for the middle class. Irina Tyurina, representing the press service of the Russian Union of the Tourism Industry, spoke about this. In her opinion, the cost of tickets was influenced by both the high demand and the artificial limitation of the number of flights.
“Today's 4 flights per week compared to the previous 9-11 per day from the capital alone cannot satisfy the sales opportunity,” she says. This enables airlines to dictate their terms and charge high ticket prices. On average, the price of economy class round-trip tickets is 150 thousand rubles, and this is 9 times more expensive than the previous one. Business class tickets cost about a million, says Tyurina. As a result, only wealthy people can afford a flight to the UAE.
“For representatives of the tourism business, it is not clear why there is an artificial limitation on the number of flights. For example, Turkey or Zanzibar are quite accessible, there are regular and charter flights. It is also difficult to explain this by the threat of infection and the epidemiological situation in the UAE: the epidemiological situation in Dubai is better than in Moscow, ”the PCT representative said.
Referring to research by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), he states that the danger of contracting coronavirus in an aircraft is greatly exaggerated. "Since the beginning of the year, only 44 cases of coronavirus have been detected during the flight, while airlines have transported over 1.2 billion people over the same period of time," she said.
The limiting reason for most travelers from visiting the UAE is the unknown: there is a danger of unexpected interruptions in flights and repeated costs for the return trip. Confirmation from the authorities to maintain air links with the UAE in any circumstances would help tourism, the expert said.
Tourists entering the UAE have to take a coronavirus test twice - before the flight and upon arrival, draw up a declaration, and register with the state application. Instead of a buffet - waiters. Tourists are already accustomed to this. Stopped by the high cost and lack of charter flights.
Air traffic between the Russian Federation and the UAE resumed on September 11. Aeroflot and Emirates planes operate 2 flights a week.
