The average price of airline tickets from Russia to foreign destinations has risen 17 percent this month compared to the same period last year, the Association of Tour Operators of Russia said late last week.
The average price of flights abroad in November has climbed from 15,324 rubles ($320) last year to 17,955 rubles ($380) this year, the association said, citing data from online ticket seller Biletix. The cost of flying within Russia has remained stable.
The numbers also show that Russians are now more inclined to pinch pennies when it comes to travel. Out of all sales of tickets to destinations abroad, the share of tickets that cost less than 10,000 rubles ($210) has risen from 44 to 51 percent while the share of tickets in the 10,000 to 20,000 ruble ($210-420) range has dropped from 49 to 39 percent.
“In the first place, Russians are trying to save money, and secondly, having run into the problem of low occupancy … foreign airlines are extending promotional offers,” Biletix CEO Alexander Sizintsev said.
The number of Russians traveling to certain parts of Europe has dropped particularly low as Russians respond to the ruble's decline of more than 20 percent against the euro this year, the report said, citing the Federal Air Transportation Agency.
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