Aeroflot and tour operator Biblio-Globus, part of the Sheremetyevo International Airport Group of Companies, signed a three-year agreement on the implementation of a long-term transportation program. Biblio-Globus received the right to conclude a deal with a leading domestic airline based on the results of a competitive procedure. The document signing ceremony took place within the framework of the international exhibition of tourism and hospitality industry MITT.
The solemn event was attended by Dmitry Vakhrukov, Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, Andrey Nikulin, First Deputy General Director for Production of SIA JSC, Andrey Chikhanchin, First Deputy General Director for Commerce and Finance of Aeroflot, and Biblio-Globus LLC, Deputy General Director for Sales Network Development Tour Operator” Irina Kostenko.
According to the agreements reached, Aeroflot will provide the tour operator with blocks of seats on its flights for the carriage of passengers and luggage as part of the tourist product. The flight program within the framework of cooperation with Biblio-Globus will include a total of 60 international and domestic destinations. To develop its route network, Aeroflot intends to make extensive use of the tourism potential of already established hubs in St. Petersburg and Krasnoyarsk, as well as recently opened regional bases in Sochi, Mineralnye Vody and other tourist clusters in Russia. During the first year of the agreement, the parties intend to serve about 3 million passengers.
Dmitry Vakhrukov, Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation: “The signing of today's agreement indicates that we are moving towards long-term planning for the development of the industry, when airlines receive orders, and the travel operator receives guaranteed places for its customers from the airline.
This means that for the next three years, Biblio-Globus customers can be sure that they will receive a high-quality comprehensive service, while Aeroflot will receive a load of seats. All this in general, of course, will positively affect the economy of transportation and the tourism industry.
First Deputy General Director for Production of SIA JSC Andrey Nikulin emphasized: “Our priority tasks are to ensure safety and first-class service for passengers, punctuality and efficient operations for the long-term development of the base carrier Aeroflot PJSC and other airlines. The partnership between Biblio-Globus, Sheremetyevo Airport and Aeroflot Airlines is an opportunity to present a guaranteed high-quality product to the tourism market. Our mutually beneficial cooperation is of strategic importance, as it is aimed at developing tourism in general and supporting the Russian economy.”
Deputy General Director for Commerce and Finance of Aeroflot Andrey Chikhanchin emphasized: changes in air transportation market conditions for Russian airlines associated with limited access to highly profitable global markets, Aeroflot is diversifying its route offer and looking for new niches. Currently, tourist destinations are becoming the main driver of Aeroflot's network development. Cooperation with the largest participant in the Russian tourism industry will allow us to quickly deploy a large route network, providing our passengers with the best travel product in terms of price and quality. The activation of flights to tourist destinations will make it possible to use Aeroflot's aircraft fleet as intensively as possible.