Tour Operators Cut Block Contracts for Paris

Airlines like Aeroflot, AirFrance, Transaero started sales of tickets to Paris. So, the flights from Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk and 9 more cities of Russia to Paris are available at prices ranging from 119 euros plus taxes and fees. From Chelyabinsk, Kemerovo, Volgograd, Perm and Irkutsk prices start from 149 euros.

Experts say that active sales by scheduled carriers result in meaningless contracting of block seats for entire season for tour operators. Therefore, in spring and summer season 2015, most market players preferred to limit guaranteed seats only for peak dates, taking for the rest of period soft commitments or even purchasing seats on request.

Travel agents also see the new trend that clients come to them with already purchased flight tickets. For such tourists, tour operators started publishing tour packages which include only ground services.

Irina Lurie, Director of Tourism of Travel System, says that early bookings decline by approximately 50 per cent compared to the last year. According to her calculations, France lost more tourists than any other European destinations due to relative high cost. The better situation is with sales for May holidays. “Tourists ask tours to Disneyland, our block of seats on Air France for these dates, is almost sold out,” Christine Herman, Director of Tourism of Danko Travel Company, says.