Data shows a surge in one-way...

Bookings to Dubai have grown by 104%

Bookings for outbound flights from Russia have soared after President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of partial mobilisation last month, with bookings to Dubai doubling week-on-week, according to travel intelligence specialists ForwardKeys.

Putin’s partial mobilisation announcement stated that 300,000 Russians with previous military or relevant experience, as well as those in reserve, would be called up to fight in the war against Ukraine, which began in February 2022.

According to flight booking data from ForwardKeys, one-way bookings to Dubai increased by 104% in the seven days following the announcement, which was made on 21 September.

One-way bookings from Russia to surrounding destinations have also seen a sharp increase. Bookings to Tbilisi, Georgia surged by 654%; Almaty, Kazakhstan by 435%; Belgrade, Serbia by 206%; Baku, Azerbaijan by 201% and Astana, Kazakhstan by 187%.

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The data found an increase in the percentage of travellers planning prolonged stays outside of Russia or leaving the country with one-way tickets at 73%, up from 47% the previous week. Also, 60% of the tickets issued following the mobilisation announcement were for travel within 15 days of purchase, compared with 45% the previous week, meaning average lead times have shortened by 34 to 22 days.

Founded in 2010 to tourism organisations, hotels and travel retailers with data that would allow them to make better strategic decisions, ForwardKeys has developed the most comprehensive database of air travel bookings in the industry, offering detailed information on traveller profiles.

For more information, visit www.forwardkeys.com