GOMEL, 10 November (BelTA) - The first flight of the resumed regular air service has departed en route Moscow-Gomel-Moscow, BelTA has learned.
The first flight of the Russian Nordwind Airlines from Moscow's Sheremetyevo arrived in Gomel on schedule.
The flight will be operated three times a week - on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. The company will operate a Boeing 737-800, Airbus-321, which seat 180-190 passengers. The travel time is an hour and a half.
Passengers can buy tickets at the airport ticket office, on the airline's website, and through travel operators of the country. Three fares are offered: without luggage with hand luggage, with luggage and business fare. Passengers must have a negative COVID-19 test result.
According to Gomel Mayor Piotr Kirichenko, the resumption of air communication with Sheremetyevo provides additional opportunities for tourist potential development.
For the convenience of passengers, Gomeloblpassazhirtrans has adjusted the schedule of buses on the city route number 59 Station-Airport. According to the utilities department of Gomel City Hall, buses will depart from the bus stop Station at 09.55 on Wednesdays and at 18.25 on Mondays and Saturdays. Buses will leave the airport at 11.55 on Wednesdays and at 20.05 on Mondays and Saturdays.
Gomel Airport is the second airport after Minsk National Airport in terms of passenger traffic. The capacity of the passenger pavilion at the airport terminal can serve passengers from two Boeing 737-800 aircraft simultaneously.
There are tourist flights from Gomel to Turkey (Antalya) and Egypt (Sharm el-Sheikh, Hurghada).
According to the company, the situation with COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the volume of flights. In 2020, only 80 tourist charters were performed from Gomel. In 2019, there were 139 such flights. Flights to Egypt were suspended for several months. In 2021, flights to Turkey were resumed. Flights to Bulgaria, Montenegro and Tunisia have also been suspended. Flights to deliver oil industry workers from Gomel to Nizhnevartovsk and Surgut have been completely stopped. By the end of 2021, the airport plans to serve 106 tourist charters.
