Flight Program from Rostov-on-Don in summer 2019

Platov airport (Rostov-on-Don) is the first one in the modern history of Russia constructed on the very new place from the zero point. The airport was named after the honourable ataman of Donland Kazak Army Matvey Ivanivich Platov, the hero of the 1812 civil war.  It started operation in December 2017. Now it deals with 30 Russian and international air companies flying to more than 50 destinations. 3 million passengers used Platov airport in 2018. 

There are international flights to Turkey, Greece, Spain, Armenia, Georgia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Tunisia, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan in the summer timetable. Some of them are the regular flights, others are on the charters. Most of the international charters have already started, so we can make some conclusions.  

Please see the schedule of planned and executed flights to sea destinations in summer 2019. 

TURKEY 

The biggest number of flights is to Turkey, and Antalya in particular. 

Red Wings on A-321 6 times a week from the 01/05/2019 till 22/05/2019 and from the 05/10/2019 till the 26/10/2019, 7 times a week from the 22/05/2019 till the 02/06/2019 and from the 20/06/2019 till the 06/10/2019, 8 times a week from the 03/06/2019 till 19/06/2019

Azur Air (which is affiliated with Anex Tour) on B-757 4 times a week from the 06/06/2019 till the 26/10/2019 (program will fly according to dates up to 7 flights a week during high season on В-737, В-767).

Nord Wind (which is affiliated with Pegast) on A-321 and on B-738 twice a week from 06/06/2019 till the 28/06/2019.

The following air companies have flights to Dalaman: Red Wings on A-321 2 times a week from the 29/04/2019 till 11/10/2019, and Azur Air (Anex Tour) on B-757 2 times a week from 04/06/2019 till 27/09/2019. 

Flights to Bodrum are organised by Azur Air (Anex Tour) on B-757 once a week from 07/06/2019 till 27/09/2019 (15.10.2019). 

GREECE 

Greece is represented by the following destinations. 

Flights to Thessaloniki are made by Aegean Airlines (flights are consolidated by Ambotis Holidays) on A-320 twice a week from 06/06/2019 till 19/09/2019, and by Ellin Air (Mouzenidis) on B-737 2 time a week from 29/05/2019 till 05/10/2019. 

Flights to Rhodes were planned by Royal Flight (Coral Travel / Sunmar) on B-737 once a week from 28/05/2019 till 01/10/2019. It was started on 28.05.2019 with weekly flights. But rather suddenly it was announced that since 18.06.19  it will not be fulfilled anymore. But tour operator decided to keep flights to Rhodes from Krasnodar, which also belongs to south part of Russia (270 km from Rostov-on-Don), so the sold till now tour packages from Rostov-on-Don are suggested to move to Krasnodar.  Travel agents from Rostov-on-Don suppose as the reason of cancellation that the program was not very profitable for the tour operator.  

Flight to Heraklion are produced by Nord Wind (consolidated by Pegast) on B-737 once in 9/10 nights from 07/06/2019 till 31.10.2019.

CYPRUS 

Cyprus is presented by flights to Larnaka on Azur Air on B-737 once a week from 11/06/2019 till 01/10/2019. The flights are consolidated by Anex Tour together with TUI.  

SPAIN 

Spain is available to Barcelona with Azur Air (Anex Tour) on B-757 once a week from 13/06/2019 till 22/10/2019. 

TUNISIA 

Tunisia is presented by Monastir with Nord Wind (Pegast) on B-737 once a decade from May holidays till 13/10/2019. 

GEORGIA 

It was planned to have regular flights to Batumi with Pobeda on B-737 4 times a week from 07/06/2019 till 28/09/2019. But flight is cancelled since 08/07/19 due to political situation in Georgia. 

ITALY 

Italy was planned to Rimini with Ural Airlines on A-320 from 27/04/2019 but it was cancelled since 08/06/2019. The reasons were: high prices for Rimini and consequently low interest of tourists from Rostov region. The reservations of this region were insufficient for continuation of the program. Now there is no support from other region from south of Russian as new airport is too far for tourists from Stavropol and Krasnodar regions and today they choose Pashkovskiy airport in Krasnodar. The consolidator of the flights was Pac Group, one of the biggest Russian tour operators for Italy.  

BULGARIA 

The charter program to Varna was cancelled before the start because of low loading too.  

So, the season is rather unstable since the very beginning. If we try to predict the situation in its development we may say that Antalya, Dalaman and Thessaloniki destinations are over estimated while Heraklion and Monastir destinations are seemed to be under estimated. The decade duration for both destinations make them very popular among the tourists.  

It’s interesting that tour agents compare Rhodes and Cyprus destinations this season as they are in the same situation according to flight plan. The same time Rhodes is not compared to Heraklion which is almost full till the end of July and not to Thessaloniki as there is a great variability of tour duration. 

At a moment the situation is not final, like we use to say here in Russia: “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch”. That is why it’ll be interesting to check this flight program in the midsummer period and finalise in October. Keep in touch! 

Russian Travel Digest thanks the press service of Platov airport for informational support.