Direct Flights from Indonesia to Moscow Set to Open
In this article (5)
Indonesia has planned to open direct flights to Moscow, Russia, in a bid to attract the countrys tourists to visit Indonesia.
“Currently, we have to transit in a third country when we fly to Russia, and this could take 24 hours, whereas with direct flight, it might only take 11 hours,” Ambassador to Russia M. Wahid Supriyadi said here on Wednesday. Wahid is scheduled to hold a meeting with the management of the national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia to discuss the plan.
“Alhamdulillah, Garuda has the commitment to fly to Moscow,” he noted. Garuda Indonesia has planned to fly thrice a week to Russia, two flights from Denpasar in Bali and one from Jakarta, from August.
A data of the Tourism Ministry showed that some 85 thousand Russian tourists had visited Indonesia in 2016. The number is targeted to reach 100 thousand tourists in 2017. However, Wahid remarked that the number was still relatively small compared to Russian tourists visiting Thailand, which is about 1.5 million per year, through direct flights from the country.
“Garuda’s flight would not only carry passengers but also tropical fruits and vegetables,” he revealed, adding that these commodities were scarce in Russia. Following the European Union and the US embargo, Russia would halt import of fruits, vegetables, and dairy products from the two regions as a response.
The move would provide an opportunity for Indonesian commodities to penetrate the Russian market. “These products would have to be transported by air cargo,” Wahid pointed out, adding that Garuda Indonesia planes could carry some 5 tons of the products in one flight.
Questions & Answers
Q.What is the primary motivation for Indonesia to establish direct flights to Moscow?
What is the primary motivation for Indonesia to establish direct flights to Moscow?
Indonesia aims to attract more Russian tourists to visit the country. Direct flights are expected to significantly reduce travel time, making Indonesia a more appealing destination compared to current routes involving a transit in a third country.
Q.Which airline is involved in this new direct flight plan and what is its proposed schedule?
Which airline is involved in this new direct flight plan and what is its proposed schedule?
Garuda Indonesia, the national flag carrier, has committed to the plan. It intends to operate three flights a week to Russia, with two originating from Denpasar, Bali, and one from Jakarta, starting from August.
Q.Beyond tourism, what other benefit does Indonesia hope to gain from these direct flights?
Beyond tourism, what other benefit does Indonesia hope to gain from these direct flights?
The flights will also be used to export Indonesian tropical fruits and vegetables to Russia. This presents an opportunity for Indonesian commodities to enter the Russian market, especially after embargos from the EU and US.
Q.How many Russian tourists visited Indonesia in 2016 and what is the target for 2017?
How many Russian tourists visited Indonesia in 2016 and what is the target for 2017?
A total of 85,000 Russian tourists visited Indonesia in 2016. The Tourism Ministry aims to increase this number to 100,000 Russian tourists in 2017 with the introduction of direct flights.
Reader pulse
Is Garuda's dual strategy for Moscow flights a smart move?
16,834 votes so far