Vitebsk Airport has resumed regular flight services
The day before, Vitebsk aviators opened the summer season of tourist charter flights to Turkey, and also received an Il-62MGr aircraft for the first time from the young Belarusian company Rada Airlines, cooperation with which will help strengthen the economy of the Vitebsk branch of RUP "Belaeronavigatsiya". Business aviation also did not stop flying to Vitebsk during these days, so the beginning of summer turned out to be pleasantly busy for the airport staff.
As reported by the deputy head of the branch, Andrey Goitan, flights to Kaliningrad will be operated twice a week, on Fridays and Sundays. A comfortable 50-seat CRJ aircraft will take passengers to their destination in just over an hour. This route was chosen by the carrier, taking into account that it will be in demand not only among residents of the Vitebsk region and neighboring regions, but also of the border Russian regions.
The fares offered by Belavia airline will allow successful competition with ground transportation, increase the accessibility and attractiveness of air travel. And although the first departure was delayed for reasons beyond the control of Vitebsk Airport, the opening of regular passenger transportation will undoubtedly contribute to the restoration of the habit of flying among the residents of the northern region.
The "menu" of tourist charters for the Vitebsk airport this season includes routes to Turkey and Bulgaria (from June 16) on a Boeing-737. The possibility of organizing flights to Montenegro is being worked out starting from 2018. Negotiations are also underway to open regular air service with Moscow and St. Petersburg.
– We are interested in expanding the geography of flights as much as possible and attracting flights to Vitebsk Airport, so we are negotiating with airlines, including Russian ones, potential partners and investors, – noted Andrey Goitan.
One of the results of this activity was cooperation with a newcomer to the Belarusian aviation industry, Rada Airlines. Established in 2015, the company specializes in international cargo charter transportation. The company's fleet includes two Il-62MGr – these are long-haul airliners capable of carrying up to 40 tons of cargo over a distance of more than 6,000 km. Vitebsk Airport will accommodate aircraft of this airline for parking, refueling, and ground handling. Specifically for this type of aircraft, the branch has undergone certification by carrying out the necessary modernization.
Partnership with the carrier will allow for increased revenue and improved profitability. Strengthening the economy will enable the airport to concentrate its efforts on its main area of activity – improving service infrastructure for passengers.
Sergey Antonov. Photos by Dmitry OSIPOV. "Vitebskiye Vesti".