Natalie Tours is canceling charter programs to reduce losses and stabilize its financial situation, Interfax-Tourism reports, citing company president Vladimir Vorobyov.
Natalie Tours on Friday reported to their agencies that Effective June 30, the company is canceling charter programs to six cities in Spain, Italy, and Turkey due to low profitability. However, tours with scheduled flights will operate as usual. The company has advised customers scheduled to fly on charter flights to apply for refunds directly or through its agencies.
"We've paid for all charter flights, including deposits for repatriation flights, so they're being used to repatriate people. We'll repatriate everyone within a week before next weekend, and then we'll close charter flights for this summer. We won't be bringing in tourists under these programs; the planes will fly empty. Turpomoshch funds won't be needed to repatriate tourists," said V. Vorobyov.
He also said that transferring charter passengers to scheduled flights during the peak season would be too expensive, so the company decided to refund them for cancelled tours.
"We had about 450 people flying to Spain on charters per week. And about 170 to Italy. The volume to Greece and Turkey was minimal. Flights to Italy were in blocks, while flights to Spain were four times a week. The situation in Spain is the most challenging. Overall, we serve 55 destinations, but the bulk of our volume is on scheduled flights," said the head of Natalie Tours.
He said the cancellation of charter programs will reduce the company's losses. "I believe this should help us stabilize our financial situation. Because we don't consider it feasible to continue incurring losses, flying empty planes, or filling them at a low price," added the head of Natalie Tours.
V. Vorobyov noted that a combination of factors led to the decline in international tour sales. In early April, the ruble fell sharply against the dollar and euro, making international vacations more expensive. The situation was further exacerbated by the FIFA World Cup, which discouraged many Russians from leaving the country.
"We will strive to fully normalize the situation. I'm meeting with key agents on Monday, and we'll try to resolve all pressing issues," said the head of Natalie Tours.
Source: trn-news.ru