OREANDA-NEWS. A regular meeting of tourist business and airlines representatives organized by Moscow Domodedovo Airport was held in the format of open dialogue. This time, the Tourist Routes. Autumn 2014-Winter 2015 Forum was held in the XIXth century historic building of Moscow Silk factory.

The participants set out to work right away: they could get acquainted with the expert assessment of changes in passenger travel destinations. Aleksey Yarosh, Marketing Director of Moscow Domodedovo Airport, told the participants about the actual processes taking place in this market segment. The speaker highlighted that the increase in the regional traffic volume became an interesting trend: over the past autumn and winter period, the performance indicators grew by 25% compared with the 2012-2013 autumn and winter period. Moreover, during the season of 2013-2014 autumn and winter navigation the passenger traffic was redistributed in favor of the Southeast Asia countries.

Among the leaders of the most popular destinations of the past autumn and winter period, there also were Spain, Egypt, Italy, UAE, and Dominican Republic. One of the most popular destinations among tourists is Greece: in 2013, more than 950,000 people were transported to this region only through Moscow Domodedovo Airport. Greek experts also note growth of tourist traffic flow from Russia; that is what Ioanna Papadopoulou, Marketing and PR Director of Athens Airport said in her speech at the Tourist Routes. Autumn 2014-Winter 2015 Forum.

“The Russian market is one of the most important for our country: only in 2013 passenger traffic growth made 24%. Based on such dynamics, we consider interaction between Moscow Domodedovo Airport, the air hub of Athens and air travel companies to be very important. Joint work of major market players will improve the level of service, and will also contribute to further development of air services between the two countries,” said Mrs. Papadopoulou.

For more than 10 years now, Moscow Domodedovo Airport provides a platform for expanding the route network, acting as an initiator and organizer of the Tourist Routes Forum, which is held twice a year in between navigational seasons. So the Moscow Domodedovo Airport partner companies are able to exchange relevant information with tour operators on various air routes. This year, the forum was attended by more than sixty companies operating in the tourist services and air transportation market.

“On behalf of the Sunrise Tour, I would like to thank Moscow Domodedovo Airport for organizing the Tourist Routes Forum. This event brings together the most important tourist market participants, provides a unique opportunity to communicate and hold business meetings with major tour operators and airlines from Russia and from all over the world. Sunrise Tour Company has attended the Forum more than once and was glad to once again become its participant,” said Ivan Tsepkov, Commercial Director of Sunrise Tour.

One of the high points of the Forum was the award ceremony where air carriers which operated the greatest number of flights without delays during the past autumn and winter period were awarded. The rating was made in the context of the Just in Time Contest, held by Moscow Domodedovo Airport monthly for over six years. Among the most punctual airlines partners of the air hub were S7, Rossiya, Polet, Izhavia, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, NIKI, Air Baltic.

Moscow Domodedovo Airport is the largest air hub in Russia, and in 2013, its total passenger traffic amounted 30.76 million people. It falls into the category of the largest airports in Europe and is among the top three fastest growing airports in Europe according to the ACI Europe classification. It is the best airport in Russia and the CIS as rated by Skytrax. Moscow Domodedovo Airport is the base airport in Moscow for member airlines of the largest global airline alliances - Star Alliance and oneworld.