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    Aeroflot
    IATA/ICAO Code:
    SU/AFL
    Airline Type:
    Full Service Carrier
    Hub(s):
    Moscow Sheremetyevo International Airport
    Year Founded:
    1923
    Alliance:
    SkyTeam
    CEO:
    Mikhail Poluboyarinov
    Country:
    Russia

Thailand is set to receive a tourism boost from October, with Russia's flag carrier Aeroflot set to resume direct flights between Moscow and Phuket. The airline is gradually re-establishing its presence in the Indian subcontinent and South East Asia following months of canceling flights as a consequence of the conflict in Ukraine.

Daily service to Phuket

After pausing its flights to Thailand for several months, Aeroflot is ready to start flying to one of the country's most popular tourist destinations – Phuket. Due to the war in Ukraine, Russian airlines had to stop flights to many international destinations following Western sanctions.

But over the last couple of months, Aeroflot has been gradually resuming previously dropped flights as it finds ways to maintain operations, despite the restrictions placed on the country's aviation sector.

AEROFLOT TAXIING
Aeroflot is returning to Phuket this month and could be joined by other Russian airlines. Photo: Airbus

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Yuthasak Supasorn said that Aeroflot has confirmed the resumption of the Moscow to Phuket service in the winter schedule, starting from October 30th with a daily service. The flights can now be booked on the airline's official website.

Tourism boost

The Bangkok Post reveals that the number of Russian tourists to Thailand as of July 26th stood at 76,739. However, most of these travelers entered the country before the situation in Ukraine escalated.

Several tour operators are confident of the demand from Russia, but connectivity remains an issue as of now. The resumption of Aeroflot's flight to Phuket is expected to partly resolve the problem, with the hope that more airlines will also follow suit.

Aeroflot Airbus A330-300
Photo: Getty Images

Mr. Yuthasak explained that several airlines from Thailand, such as Thai Airways and Thai AirAsia X, were interested in operating this route to replace Russian carriers. However, the sanctions from European countries meant that technical assistance such as maintenance and shipments of spare parts were banned over the past few months. Insurance to provide coverage in such circumstances has also been a problem.

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But with Aeroflot resuming operations in the last quarter of the year, the hope is that the development will attract more than 1 million Russian visitors to the country.

Impact of the Ukraine conflict

The Russian aviation sector has been severely impacted by Western sanctions in the wake of the war in Ukraine. Aeroflot, in particular, landed in deep water with the grounding of planes and canceling flights to several international destinations.

Aeroflot Airbus A350-900
Aeroflot has been affected significantly following Western sanctions on Russia. Photo: Airbus

In June, it emerged that Aeroflot was planning to raise up to $3 billion in an emergency share issue to sustain flight operations. The airline also suspended flight to Colombo, Sri Lanka, after one of its A330s was seized there due to issues with the aircraft's lessor.

But there have been some key route resumptions in the last couple of months, such as direct flights between Moscow and New Delhi as well as another tourist destination – Male, in the Maldives.

But with several of its previous key routes still suspended, there's still some time before Aeroflot can return to its peak capacity.

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Source: Bangkok Post