Russia-Goa Aeroflot direct flights to set up Mopa base

Panaji: International airlines seem determined to operate only from the Manohar International Airport, with Russian carrier Aeroflot announcing that it is making the shift to Mopa. The airline is expected to operate daily flights to Goa from Yekaterinburg and Moscow.
GMR Goa International Airport Limited, which manages the Manohar International Airport, is also in talks with Uzbekistan Air and Emirates for international flights from Goa.“Most Russian tourists prefer Goa’s northern coastal belt, so Mopa is a convenient option”, said a tour operator.
Aeroflot had announced that it would transfer its direct regular flights on the Moscow-Goa and Yekaterinburg-Goa sector to Manohar International Airport, Mopa in Oct 2023 but the airline continued with charter slots at Goa International Airport, Dabolim.
Mopa currently offers direct connectivity to Europe via Air India, to Muscat and onwards through Oman Air and to Doha through Qatar Airways. The airport is expected to offer international flights to Russian cities as well as to Uzbekistan by Oct.
“Aerofloat announcing shifting of its operations from Dabolim to Mopa is one more blow to South Goa by the insensitive BJP govt.
Soon Dabolim will turn into a ghost airport destroying the economy of South Goa,” said opposition leader Alemao.