Support The Moscow Times!

Russian Air Ticket Prices Skyrocket For 2018 World Cup

Kirill Zykov / Moskva News Agency

Flight ticket prices to cities that are hosting the 2018 World Cup have grown an average 230 percent according to research by the RBC business portal.

RBC compiled the data based on prices for return tickets as of December 20.

Prices to Volgograd, which will host group stage matches, increased the most. Instead of the 6,300 rubles ($109) for flights from Moscow at the beginning of summer, football fans will have to pay 30,000 to 40,000 rubles for flights near to match days.

Similarly, tickets to Yekaterinburg from Moscow, Sochi and Kaliningrad, which usually cost 7,500 rubles in the summer, spiked to 20,000 to 40,000 rubles near match days.

The Federal Antimonopoly Service has promised to work with airline companies to stabilize prices. It also noted that football fans with match tickets will be able to book places on free trains that will transport World Cup visitors between host cities.

Although free of charge, this solution may not appeal to all football fans, as train journeys can last from 24 to 42 hours, like the trip between Moscow and Sochi, and some destinations do not have a direct connection. 

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more