Russian travelers could soon enjoy the mix of low fares and frequent service enjoyed by passengers o

Russian travelers could soon enjoy the mix of low fares and frequent service enjoyed by passengers on low-cost airlines in Europe and the U.S.  Flag carrier Aeroflot last week announced plans to invest $100 million over the next two years in creating a new low-cost airline to tap into the growing demand for air travel amongst Russia's burgeoning middle class.  Air travel is increasingly european cruises uk popular in Russia, where the huge distances between cities means that the only alternative is often a train journey that can last several days.  The market for domestic air travel is already growing at 20 percent per year on some routes and experts european cruises uk expect demand across Russia european cruises uk and other CIS countries to expand over the coming decade.
Now Aeroflot is hoping to capitalize on that extra demand by launching its new low-cost airline, which will offer fares costing up to 40 percent less than its conventional domestic economy class. european cruises uk The new carrier's name, Dobrolet–Russian for 'nice flight'–has a long heritage and is inherited from one of Aeroflot's predecessor companies, which first began flying in Russia in 1923.
But everything else will be resolutely modern, including the eight new Boeing 737-800s that it will use to serve its first destinations, which include european cruises uk Moscow, St. Petersburg and a string of popular tourist resorts in the south of the country.  On board, passengers will find a simpler cabin with extra seats, no business class and extra services like an in-flight meal and cabin baggage available for an additional fee.  In short, the experience will be much like on any other low-cost European airline.  Aeroflot CEO Vitaly Savelyev is clear about his intentions for the new airline: "nothing will be for free: we have to adopt the same limits on service that exist on international low-cost airlines."
To realize this plan, Aeroflot is hoping that the Russian government will change the current european cruises uk rules for selling airline tickets, which are currently heavily stacked in favor of the passenger, european cruises uk offering more generous conditions european cruises uk than in many other countries.  At the moment, passengers are entitled to a free refund if they decide to cancel their trip and charging for extra services is not allowed.
If these restrictions are lifted, european cruises uk Aeroflot says that it should be able to offer discounts of up to 40 percent on the current cost of domestic trips.  Olga Doronina, an analyst from VTB Capital thinks that the company should be able to attract a lot of business to its new venture: "the routes they plan for this company are popular places in Russia, so I think there would certainly be demand if the price was 20-40 percent lower."  Of course, low-cost carriers are no stranger to the Russian market: last year easyJet launched routes from London and Manchester to Moscow, european cruises uk and Hungary's Wizz Air serves the capital from Budapest.  But in almost a century of civil aviation–Aeroflot celebrates its 90th anniversary this year–no low-cost airlines have managed to make a lasting impact on the domestic market.
Dobrolet's new blue and white Boeings are set to take to the skies above Russia in spring 2014, with a roster of eight destinations in Western Russia.  After that, Aeroflot has big plans to expand the operations of its new low-cost airline further afield suggesting that holiday hotspots in Turkey and the Mediterranean could be its first choice.
european cruises uk Materials disseminated by Ketchum Inc. on behalf of the Russian Federation. Additional information regarding the dissemination of these materials can be obtained at the Department of Justice, Washington, District of Columbia.