How much does the Indo-Pakistan conflict cost for tourism?
Restrictions on flights over the territories of India, Pakistan and Afghanistan continue to apply. According to the notes received by Russian carriers, the sky over the Pakistan-Lahore section may open on March 1 at 11.00 Moscow time. Accurate information will appear after 9 a.m. on March 1.
Russian carriers rerouted routes over India and Pakistan. The conflict between India and Pakistan affected routes to Thailand (Bangkok, Phuket), Bali, China, India, Indonesia, the average increase in travel time on these routes 1-2 hours.
Starikov: Due to the change in flight routes, the flight duration increased by about one hour. However, flight time is significantly influenced by such factors as the type of aircraft, its commercial loading and weather conditions.”
The largest increase in travel time occurred on the routes to Thailand: Bangkok (from 1 hour-flight through Iran and Oman to 1 hour and 40 minutes through China) and Phuket - up to one hour. The duration of the flight to Vietnam will also increase.
Flights to Goa were less affected - no more than 10 minutes on average, subject to a flight without refueling. The average duration of flights to Denpasar (Bali), Colombo (Sri Lanka) increased by 30-40 minutes.
Airlines have increased their flight costs. Most carriers fly on modified routes without refueling, so the price increase is not significant. Expenses increase when performing flights with refueling (in AZUR Air, such flights are operated by Boeing 757-200 from Siberia and southern regions).
Rostourism recommended that tourists check up-to-date information about the departure time of flights from tour operators and airlines before departure, which must report a change in flight schedules.
The average increase in prices for a flight to Asia is 200-300 thousand rubles more expensive. This is less than 1 thousand rubles per passenger (the average capacity of the board is 320 people), but for airlines it is millions of rubles per day.
A. Matyushina, Director of Public Relations of AZUR Air: There is indeed an increase in costs. But it is too early to say whether this will affect the price of the tourist product. It cannot be ruled out that the situation will soon be resolved and flights will be operated on normal routes.”
Additional payments for already paid tours are not taken.
“We are not going to charge additional fees for paid tours and cannot predict whether there will be such an increase in the future. We are guided by information and schedule from air carrier partners in this situation, the press service of TUI Russia noted. We stand in solidarity with TUI and other market players.
If air carriers raise the amount of fuel toll on Asian destinations, each tour will not significantly rise in price.
In the long-haul directions of South and Southeast Asia, the average prices of tours in the first decade of March: Goa - 70 thousand rubles for two, Thailand - 92 thousand rubles, Vietnam - 95 thousand rubles, Indonesia and Sri Lanka - 110 thousand rubles, China (Hainan) - 138 thousand rubles, the Maldives - 210,000 rubles.
Experts believe that additional payments of 1-1.5 thousand or even 2 thousand rubles will not affect demand.
According to information: atorus