# ‘Air Rossiya’ lands after 8-hour delay due to thick fog
# Diverted to Bengaluru
the goan I network
VASCO
The chartered flight that was supposed to land at about 8 am had to be diverted to Bengaluru due to thick fog. As the defense takes over the airport after 8 am till 1 pm for their defense sorties, the chartered flight finally landed at about 4 pm.
Officials of Goa Tourism Development Corporation welcomed the tourists by presenting a rose and a T-shirt with GTDC logo, while the brass band played Konkani tunes to which the tourists took to dancing outside the arrival bay.
Speaking to The Goan, Shaik Ismail, General Manager of Concord Exotic Voyages, said for the first time a direct chartered flight from Moscow arrived in Goa so early.
Earlier, the chartered flights used to arrive in Goa by October 15 and that too, indirect flights with a halt in Dubai.
Ismail said till October end, two chartered flights will land in Goa and from November the number will increase to four chartered flights per month.
Asked when will be the last chartered flight that will arrive in Goa from Moscow, Ismail said the season will last till March. “However, in February, the company will decide whether the season could be extended till May 2017.”
When asked why there is so much influx of Russian tourists in Goa this season, John D’Souza, Manager of Concord Exotic Voyages, said the Russian tourists have decided to visit Goa due to problems in Egypt and Turkey.
Speaking on BRICS summit in Goa, Assistant Director of GTDC Fernando Duarte said it is a blessing in disguise. “The Summit will give additional promotion to Goa which will indirectly boost the tourism industry,” added Duarte.
Tough time for passengers, 6 flights diverted
VASCO: Hundreds of tourists and passengers were affected after six flights were diverted to Bengaluru and Mumbai airports due to thick fog and poor visibility at Dabolim airport on Sunday.
About five flights including the chartered flight were diverted to Bengaluru and one flight to Mumbai.
Some passengers were seen sleeping in the lobby of a three starred hotel in Vasco, while some were seen idling their time with their children by the pool side.
The chartered flight ‘Air Rossyia’, that was diverted to Bangalore, was the first to land at Dabolim airport almost after 8
