You can now fly to Russia for ￡13 (but there's a catch)
Russia just became more affordable for British travellers, with Wizz Air today launching budget flights from the UK to St Petersburg and Moscow.
The flights, starting from ￡12.99 one-way, will operate daily from London Luton Airport to Moscow’s Vnukovo International Airport and Pulkovo Airport in St Petersburg.
The new routes mark a considerable drop in the price of travelling between the UK and Russia. The cheapest flights available in November 2019 from London Heathrow to Moscow cost ￡243 return with British Airways.
The cheapest flights from London Gatwick to St Petersburg in November 2019 will set you back ￡153, flying with Aeroflot.
At a starting price of ￡12.99 each way, a return ticket to St Petersburg (￡25.98) is now cheaper than an open return train from London St Pancras International to Luton Airport (￡30.30).
The cheapest Wizz Air flights to St Petersburg do come at a price, however. All of the outbound services take off at 10.25pm and land at 4.05am, giving visitors ten hours to fill until a typical hotel check-in time of 2pm. The return leg takes off at 6.05am and lands at Luton at 6.20am, meaning those departing Pulkovo Airport will need to get up in the middle of the night.
The Luton to Moscow flights operate at more sociable hours and start from ￡21.99 one-way.
There is another obstacle to UK travellers. A visa must be obtained face-to-face at an application centre in London, Manchester or Edinburgh. A new short-term single-entry e-visa scheme might speed up the process in the future, although it is unclear whether this will apply to British travellers if the UK leaves the European Union.
Owain Jones, Wizz Air UK’s managing director, said: “Those looking to immerse themselves in the rich history and culture of Moscow and St Petersburg need look no further, as our direct, low-fare flights make these cities more accessible than ever.”
To mark the new flights, 3D street art installations of Moscow and St Petersburg have been unveiled outside Luton Airport.
Low-cost airline easyJet cancelled its flights to Moscow in 2015 following the sharp devaluation of the ruble on the back of plunging oil prices. They have not reintroduced the route since. Ryanair does not operate any flights between the UK and Russia.
Celebrating its 15th birthday this year, Wizz has grown from a plucky start-up to a dominant operator across central and eastern Europe.
In a way, Wizz can thank the European Union for its success. Its launch in 2004 coincided with a number of eastern and central European nations joining the EU. Little more than a decade after the Berlin Wall fell, countries that had spent decades behind the Iron Curtain jumped at the prospect of being free to travel and work across the Continent.
The airline now serves 147 destinations across 44 countries. And there’s room for further growth. With more than 250 aircraft waiting to be delivered it has one of the biggest order books in Europe. It does, however, have some way to catch up with Ryanair. While Wizz flew 34 million passengers in 2018, its Irish rival carries nearly four times that number every year.
Where does Wizz fly?
From Luton, Wizz flies to 60 destinations in 28 countries, from Tromso (Norway) in the north to Eilat (Israel) in the south. Though the majority of Wizz’s route map is centred on eastern Europe, it also serves Reykjavik, Oslo and Lisbon, as well as Grenoble, and Larnaca in Cyprus. Last week the airline announced a new service from London to Stavanger in southwest Norway.
Then, of course, there are its regional UK routes, to and from, among others, Doncaster-Sheffield, Liverpool and Bristol.
Will it ever look to capitalise on the UK’s love affair with Spain and France? “Spain is a very congested market,” said Owain Jones, adding that his focus is on “stimulating demand where there hasn’t been before.”
Why go to Moscow?
Our Russia expert, Paul Sullivan, says: “Moscow’s size, reputation and Soviet architecture has given it a fairly intimidating reputation. But there is much more to the Russian capital than its central role in the Cold War.
“In fact, the capital has a fascinating history that dates back over 800 years, and while it doesn’t have the dreamy canals and European glamour of its northern counterpart St. Petersburg, it’s no slouch in terms of culture, hosting some some of the country's most renowned art and history collections, theatres and film studios – not to mention some extremely luxurious shops, glamorous restaurants and slick bars.
"Most of the action can be found within the Garden Ring, where a thoroughly contemporary, if not downright ostentatious, buzz prevails.”
To find out more about Moscow, check out our insider guide to the mighty metropolis.
Why go to St Petersburg?
“Facing west across the Baltic Sea, St Petersburg was created by its founder Peter the Great as a window into Europe. Designed by a slew of renowned European architects, its baroque palaces, geometric layout and picturesque canals (Goethe named it the Venice of the North) are purposely reminiscent of Europe, although Orthodox churches and the ubiquitous Cyrillic script are reminders that this is nonetheless an exotic land,” says Paul Sullivan.
“Long regarded as the country’s premier cultural hub, it offers an endless array of artistic thrills that span over 200 museums (including the Hermitage and the Russian Museum) and world-class ballet, opera and classical music.
“Visitors might be surprised by its contemporary edge too. Significant investment into the centre’s regeneration has resulted in a buzzing gallery scene and an ever increasing numbers of hip and upscale bars, restaurants and boutiques.
“To experience the city at its most romantic, visit during the White Nights, from late May to early July, when the sun blazes all night long and the city comes alive with arts festivals, outdoor concerts and more.”
To find out more about what to do in St Petersburg, check out ourinsider guide to Russia’s grandest city.
Would you be tempted by a ￡12.99 flight to Russia if it meant arriving at 4.05am? Comment below to join the conversation.