Air: the number of flights will decrease
Due to the unprecedented rise in the dollar, domestic air travel is under threat. Both officials and experts have repeatedly lamented that airlines are reluctant to fly within the country - it is much more profitable for airlines to operate international flights. What will happen to domestic flights now that fuel prices have risen literally in a matter of days?
- The existing route network within Ukraine is already small - it connects Kyiv with the largest regional centers, - says transport expert Alexander Kava. - Therefore, talking about the future, it can be predicted that the network itself will remain the same, but the number of flights will decrease.
As for the Kyiv - Simferopol route, which has been closed since early March, its resumption, according to the expert, is unlikely. But the reasons here are not economic, but purely political.
Railways: preliminary ticket sales suspended
It seems that the railway direction to Simferopol is also under threat. On Thursday evening, the Russian side announced the lack of coordination of railway schedules between mainland Ukraine and Crimea. According to the president of OAO 'Russian Railways' Vladimir Yakunin, due to this, railway transportation may be suspended altogether.
The press service of 'Ukrzaliznytsia' confirmed to 'Komsomolskaya Pravda' that they temporarily suspended preliminary ticket sales to the peninsula from March 27, 2014. This happened because the Crimean railway independently adjusted its train schedules for 2014-2015 without coordination with 'Ukrzaliznytsia'.
It is clear that the situation requires resolution. Therefore, a meeting is scheduled for next week between representatives of 'Ukrzaliznytsia', OAO 'Russian Railways' and the Belarusian railway, at which the parties will attempt to resolve the schedule. By the way, according to Alexander Kava, the reduction in flight numbers will not affect the increase in the number of trains in any way.
- Simply because the numbers are incomparable, - explains the expert. - For example, an average of 150 passengers fly the Kyiv - Donetsk route by plane, while about a thousand travel by train in the same direction. So those who refuse to fly will likely use personal vehicles, especially since distances in Ukraine are relatively small. Long-distance buses: price increase is inevitable
Despite the fact that intercity bus routes have not yet increased in price, unlike city routes, experts say this is a matter of the near future.
- The thing is that most buses are registered to private entrepreneurs, who have two main types of costs: the purchase of the bus itself and fuel and lubricants, - explained transport expert Vasily Shevchenko.
- Plus the drivers' salaries, but this issue can be managed in the context of rising inflation. However, the rise in fuel prices will inevitably lead to higher transportation rates.
However, the expert reassured that this increase will be gradual. The fact is that the price of intercity transportation is primarily an agreement between the client, represented by local authorities, and the carrier. And since local authorities will do everything possible to prevent fare increases, the first increase will be small - around 10%.
- Subsequent price increases in each specific case depend on how the dialogue with local authorities proceeds, - says the expert. - But it is clear that no one will work at a loss.