Novosibirsk tells the world: welcome to Siberia’s air gateway

A major drive to boost the role of Novosibirsk was launched at the world's largest travel trade exhibition in Berlin.
With representatives of travel agencies from 187 countries, ITB Berlin 2012 was seen as an ideal place to showcase Tolmachevo airport's qualities as a regional hub as well as a destination.

Such trade gatherings are seen as essential to promoting Siberia — and the regions within it — as tourist and business destinations.

Tolmachevo bosses announced that at the March 2012 Berlin event 'preliminary discussions' were started with Air Arabia about starting a service between Novosibirsk and Sharjah in the United Arab emirates.

Talks are also underway about flights operated by MIAT Mongolian to Ulaanbaatar.

This follows last year's additions of international flights to and from the Ukrainian capital Kiev operated by Aero Svit, and to Larnaca in Cyprus), as well as the Chinese cities of Harbin and Guangzhou by Ural Airlines.

Astra Airlines also began services to Thessaloniki in Greece.

On March 15, Turkish Airlines made its debut flight to Novosibirsk, bringing Tolmachevo into one of Europe's most active and expanding airlines, and offering intriguing two-way travel options to and from Siberia.

This significant development involving flights to and from Istanbul is covered by a separate Siberian Times story.

Other key developments at Tomachevo include a link in June 2012 to Minsk, the capital of Belarus, operated by Belavia, and a service to the heart of Germany in Dusseldorf, offered by OPENAIR airlines.