Team Herald
PANJIM: Amid prevailing situation in former Soviet Union State Ukraine and its neighbour Russia, charter operators in Goa are optimistic that it won’t have any impact on the current tourist season.
While no charter flights are coming from Ukraine even as charter operations to India resumed in December 2021, the coastal State continues to get charters from Russia.
“We are hopeful that the prevailing scenario won’t affect charter tourism. We get one Russian charter Rossiya Airlines every 10 days. It carries over 500 tourists and the schedule is consistent till March-end,” Station Manager, Jet Concepts and the Goa representative of Royal Flights Melroy D’Costa told Herald.
The Russian charter looks better, D’Souza added, as arrivals are confirmed till the last flight of the season on March 27. Goa received first charter flight from Russia at the fag end of December 2021.
On the other hand, no flights from Ukraine were booked since resumption of international movement.
Another charter operator said that arrivals from Kazakhstan might see an impact. The frequency has dropped in the past couple of days.
“The arrivals are recording decline although it is a former part of former Soviet Union. Flight occupancy is also not that great but we hope things will soon improve despite the current tension between Ukraine and Russia,” he said.
Meanwhile, under an air bubble arrangement between India and Ukraine, international passenger flights can be operated by their respective carriers into each other’s territories subject to certain conditions.
“Any number of flights as well as charter flights can operate. MoCA (Ministry of Civil Aviation) has removed the restriction on number of flights and seats between India and Ukraine in air bubble arrangement. Any number of flights as well as charter flights can operate. Indian Airlines have been informed to mount the flights due to increase in demand. MoCA is facilitating in coordination with Ministry of External Affairs,” the Ministry of Civil Aviation said in a statement.
