Goa Welcomes First Moscow Charter of Winter Season with 285+ Passengers; Strengthens International Air Connectivity
Russian and Kazakhstan connectivity to further expand Goa’s global tourism reach
Panaji, October 4, 2026: Goa today welcomed the first charter flight from Moscow for the winter tourism season at Dabolim International Airport, operated by Aeroflot, carrying 285+ passengers, marking an important start to the state’s international charter movement from Russia for the 2026–27 tourism season. The arrival follows charter services from Yekaterinburg, with flights arriving in Goa on October 3rd and 4th respectively. The Yekaterinburg–Goa service has a maximum capacity of 162 passengers, further reinforcing Russia’s continued importance as a key international source market for Goa during the season.
The arrival of the Moscow charter marks the strengthening of direct international access to Goa from major Russian cities and is expected to support the state’s winter tourism economy.
Welcoming the arrival, Hon’ble Tourism Minister Shri Rohan A. Khaunte said: “The arrival of our first Moscow charter of the season is a strong beginning to Goa’s winter tourism programme. Russia continues to be an important source market for Goa, and the continued charter movement reflects the sustained demand for our destination. We are committed to strengthening international connectivity while ensuring that Goa benefits from diverse and resilient tourism flows. I thank our airline, charter and tourism partners for their continued confidence in Goa.”
The Minister further highlighted the growing importance of Central Asian markets, with additional connectivity from Kazakhstan set to commence later this season.
Director of Tourism, Shri. Kedar Naik, who was also present at Dabolim Airport to welcome Russian tourists from Moscow, said: “We are delighted to welcome the first Moscow charter of the season and the Russian visitors arriving in Goa. These arrivals reaffirm Goa’s position as a preferred winter destination in the international market. The Department will continue to work closely with airlines, charter operators, tour operators and industry partners to strengthen connectivity and facilitate a steady flow of international visitors.”
Goa’s international connectivity will receive a further boost with new charter and scheduled services from Kazakhstan. SCAT Airlines is scheduled to commence its Almaty–Dabolim charter service from October 23, 2026. The service will operate once a week, every Friday, until December 25, 2026, before increasing to twice weekly, every Tuesday and Friday, from December 29, 2026, to April 2, 2027. Further strengthening access from Kazakhstan, Air Astana is scheduled to commence an Astana–Goa service connecting Astana with Manohar International Airport, Mopa, from December 30, 2026. The service is scheduled to operate once a week, every Wednesday, until March 31, 2027.
Together, the Almaty and Astana connections will provide travellers from Kazakhstan with access to Goa through both Dabolim and Mopa, while supporting the state’s efforts to deepen its presence in the growing Central Asian tourism market.
Besides these, major tour operators including Concorde, TUI and TCI have booked travellers on scheduled flights to Goa from countries across Scandinavia, Western and Eastern Europe, including Armenia and Belarus, as well as emerging markets in the Middle East.
The expanded winter programme is part of the Department of Tourism’s wider effort to strengthen international access to Goa by working with airlines, charter operators, tour operators, airports and tourism industry stakeholders, while developing both established source markets and newer markets across Central Asia and other regions.
