Russian tour operators can start selling trips to Georgia in the next two weeks, that is, until the end of May. On this subject informed Vestnik ATOR (Association of Tour Operators of Russia) with reference to market players interviewed.
Now their clients have access to “land programs” of visits to Georgia – by road from North Ossetia through the Upper Lars checkpoint. However, with the resumption of direct flights, it will be possible to form tours based on the flights of Russian and Georgian airlines.
The company “Intourist” explained that this will become possible as soon as the carriers “standardize the schedules”, and the direct flights “will be recorded on the GDS” (Global Distribution System, global reservation system). FUN&SUN agreed with the view that Georgia tours with airfare could go on sale within two weeks. The Russian Express travel agency has announced that it is ready to start forming packages “a few days” after the flights appear in the reservation system.
Tickets for Moscow-Tbilisi-Moscow flights are already sold by the Russian airline Azimuth, which is licensed to serve this route. After the opening of sales, its website became unstable, but tickets can also be purchased on various aggregators.
The Russian airline Red Wings deposit to the Federal Air Transport Agency a request for flights to Tbilisi not only from Moscow, but also from Samara and Kazan. What other Russian carriers have requested from the Civil Aviation Agency of Georgia is still unknown.
The idea that How much will it cost package tours with direct flights can be compiled taking into account the price of tickets (at least 20.8 thousand rubles from Azimuth for June) and data from the tour operator TEZ TOUR, which so far only offers to book hotels in Georgia without flight. Seven nights for two at the Crystal Kobuleti 3* in the Adjara region with arrival on June 1 cost from 23,266 rubles, at the London Palace 3* in Tbilisi — from 27,117 rubles.
Russian airlines will only be able to fly the Russia-Georgia route with SSJ-100 planes, as the Georgian Civil Aviation Agency said the plane should not face international sanctions. A similar warning was issued by United Airports of Georgia.
"Along with direct flights, it is possible to resume bus tours in Georgia, as the upper Lars border [with Russia] is now open," Artur Muradyan, Vice President of ATOR said adding that the number of tourists might even reach a million if enough flights are carried out.
