Rosaviatsia announced the day before that the operation of 12 airports in southern Russian cities was temporarily suspended. Until March 2, the airports of Bryansk, Belgorod, Orel, Kursk, Voronezh, Rostov-on-Don, Krasnodar, Anapa, Gelendzhik, Elista, Stavropol, Simferopol are closed. Today, the agency banned British airlines from flying over Russia. Thousands of tourists cannot return home or fly away on vacation. To avoid collapse, airlines are urging passengers not to come to airports if a flight is cancelled.

Stuck in the South of Russia

According to the Federal Tourism Agency, in the regions where the operation of airports is paralyzed, there are about 150 thousand tourists, including 25 thousand organized ones. “Most of the tourists are in the Crimea and the Krasnodar Territory,” the department’s website says.

For tourists who were supposed to fly before March 2, Russian Railways launched additional trains. In addition, several major tour operators have organized bus pickups.

The rest of the tourists continue their vacation as usual.

»Rostourism appeals to Russian hoteliers with a request to meet tourists and extend hotel stays for guests who cannot fly from closed airports without increasing the cost of hotel services, and if possible, without additional fees. We also ask you to closely cooperate with tour operators and find mutually acceptable solutions," the ministry said.

Sochi Airport is operating normally. More than 7 thousand tourists flew out of the city on February 24. “In total, more than 7,000 guests have left the city today. We have a maneuverable fund for tourists,” said the head of the city, Alexei Kopaygorodsky.

More than 76 thousand tourists stay at the resort. There are 649 accommodation places working there: the load in the coastal cluster is 67%, in the mountain cluster - about 90%.

Low-cost airline Pobeda automatically issued a refund of air tickets. Passengers of Aeroflot, Yamal, Smartavia, Azur Air and Red Wings can also apply for a refund.

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Those who cannot return to the country

Rostourism and the Ministry of Transport compile lists of tourists who cannot return home from abroad, since flights to their cities are not operated. “Such tourists need to keep in touch with tour operators and representatives of airlines,” Rostourism notes.

For Russians abroad, together with the ONF and the Roscongress Foundation, a hotline has been launched by phone: 8 (800) 200-34-11. On the site stafftourism.rf, you can also fill out an online form to receive applications.

“Currently, many return flights to Russia depart with delays due to new air corridors and to other airports in Russia that differ from the airport of departure (in relation to cities in southern Russia). Tour operators on the ground resolve issues of accommodation and meals for tourists, ”the Association of Tour Operators of Russia emphasized.

Changing the airline and choosing other flights with connections may lead to additional costs, ATOR noted, recommending tourists to coordinate all actions with the tour operator.

Egyptian hoteliers have already promised that they will not evict Ukrainian and Russian guests from their rooms. “Vacationers will remain in hotels until they can safely return to their homeland,” the country’s tourism ministry said.

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Those who are just planning to fly away

Rostourism calls on tourists to postpone trips to Russian regions where airports have been suspended. The legal service of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia recommended that tourists who have purchased tours to cities with closed air harbors do not cancel their tours, but change the booking dates if possible.

“Now the most profitable option would be to postpone the tour to later dates, choosing this option will save the money spent on organizing trips as much as possible,” said Nadezhda Efremova, head of the ATOR legal service.

Tour operators may withhold funds for canceled services, which, in accordance with Russian law, are actually expenses incurred. “That is why we recommend making informed decisions and considering all alternative options offered by tour operators,” ATOR explained.

Cancellations of tours are not yet widespread, but are already being recorded, the association notes.

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Passengers of British airlines

As part of a new package of sanctions against Russia, the British authorities previously banned Aeroflot from flying to the UK. Rosaviatsia responded by banning the arrival and transit of all aircraft associated with or registered with the UK.“February 25, 2022, from 11:00 Moscow time, a restriction was introduced on the use of the airspace of the Russian Federation for flights of aircraft owned, leased or operated by a person associated with the UK or registered in the UK, to points in the territory of the Russian Federation, including transit flights through the airspace of the Russian Federation," the ministry said in a statement.

Aeroflot's flight from Moscow to London on February 25 has been cancelled. British Airways also canceled Friday's flight from London to Moscow.

Decrease in sales

Average daily sales of tours fell sharply on February 24, and the number of bookings fell both within the country (by 20-40%) and in hotels abroad (by 15-20%). A significant "sagging" part fell on the March tours. The dynamics of sales of vouchers for the summer season has changed slightly.

The luxury segment demonstrates the greatest stability in the current situation.

Dolphin, the largest tour operator on the Russian tourism market, said that its tour sales have decreased by 50%, as the Russians have “taken a break”. About 80 of the company's customers were unable to return home yesterday.

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