RUSSIAN TRAVEL
This information package is designed to answer the most commonly asked questions about chartering aircraft and purchasing individual seat fares on flights between Nome and the Russian Far East.
A little background: Bering Air is a U.S. commuter airline operating under Part 135 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. The company has bases in Nome, Kotzebue and Unalakleet, Alaska.
In May 1988, a Bering Air aircraft lifted the 41-year-old "Ice Curtain" between Alaska and Russia. Since then, more than 1500 charter flights have been operated.
The opening of the airways between western Alaska and the former Soviet Far East represented the fulfillment of a goal that had long existed in the thoughts of many Alaskans and Russians alike. Opportunities abound for developing new friendships, reuniting separated families, and replacing years of misunderstanding with joint efforts and enterprise.
However, Chukotka - the region to which Bering Air flies - is still considered to be a "closed" region within the Russian Federation. U.S. citizens and other nationals must have a valid passport, Russian visa and an official entry permission document signed by appropriate Russian/Chukotkan authorities. Visas are issued based upon an invitation from a person or corporation.
WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST
Chukotka is a closed region of Russia that has had limited contact with the rest of the world. Which makes the area a very unique place to visit.
The closest international airport that we serve is Provideniya, which is one of two in the Chukotka Region. Provideniya is a deep-water port. The mountains are steep and treeless with many bays along the coast. Russian, Chukchi & Siberian Yupik cultures, customs and languages fascinate the visitors to the Provideniya region. Sightseeing, photography, walking around and visiting with people are some of the things to do.
Warning: This is not a luxury trip. There are limited shopping opportunities, public restaurants & services or entertainment in the forms that you may be used to. There are no facilities for the handicapped. Every building has long flights of cement stairs.
The Capital of Chukotka - Anadyr - opened its airport to international flights in 2003. Over the past four years, Anadyr has witnessed many improvements, and now residents and guests alike can enjoy comfortable restaurants, hotels, and modern supermarkets.
Your Russian Hosts are interested in making your trip to Russia a memorable experience and will go out of their way to help you create a lasting memory.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO GO TO CHUKOTKA
You are responsible for arranging an invitation for yourself and/or your group. You are also responsible for obtaining an entry permission document. This document usually takes four to five weeks to process.
When you select travel dates to and from Provideniya or Anadyr, keep in mind that Russian airports are closed for the weekend, which is Friday and Saturday, U.S. time.
With your U.S. passport and Russian invitation in hand, you may apply to the Consulate of the Russian Federation in San Francisco, California or Seattle, Washington for a visa to enter Russia.
If you don’t have an invitation, some tour companies, like Red Star Travel, can provide you with one when you apply for a Russian visa.
More information on the process of getting a visa can be found at Red Star Travel’s website, www.travel2russia.com. When passports, invitations, entry permissions, visas, and travel dates are arranged, the travelers need to find their transportation to Nome. Alaska Airlines serves Nome daily with passenger service from Anchorage and the continental United States.
U.S. Residents, please refer to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Regulations before you leave for the trip.
VISAS, FACILITATION, AND INVITATIONS
These organizations can assist you with obtaining a visa to go to Russia:
9705 Sand Point Way N.E.
Seattle, WA. 98115, USA
Phone: 206-522-5995
Visa on-line service and lots of travel information about the rest of Russia
on this site.
E mail : travel@travel2russia.com
3201 West 31st Avenue, Suite. 101
Anchorage, Alaska 99517, USA
e-mail: info@arctictravel.net
Circumpolar Expeditions in Anchorage provides customized tours to Provideniya that include housing, meals, entertainment and transportation. The housing is usually a furnished apartment and the hosts.
CONSULATES OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Embassy of Russia in the United States2650 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.
Washington DC 20007
Tel: (202)298-5700
Tel: (202)298-5772
Fax: (202)298-5749
Visa Department:
1825 Phelps Place N.W.Washington DC 20008
Tel: (202)939-8907
Fax: (202)939-8909
Consulate General in New York
9 East 91 St.
New York, NY 10128
Tel: (212)348-0926
Fax: (212)831-9162
Russian Mission at UN
136 East 67th St.
New York, NY 10021
Tel: (212)861-4900
Fax: (212)628-0252
Consulate General in Seattle
2001 Sixth Avenue Westin Building Suite 2323
Seattle WA 98121-2617
Tel: (206)728-1910
Fax: (206)728-1871
Consulate General in San Francisco
2790 Green St.
San Francisco, CA 94123
Tel: (415)928-6878
Fax: (415)929-0306
WHAT BERING AIR DOES FOR FLIGHTS TO THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST
- Arrange for the flight across the international border with proper Russian offices.
- Arrange for US Customs to meet incoming flights.
- Payment of all US Customs and Immigration fees.
You need a passport and a VISA to go to Russia and arrange for your travel to Nome, Alaska, U.S.
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
| Nome to Provideniya (or Provideniya to Nome): | |||
| Aircraft | Flight Time | # of Seats | Load Available |
| Piper Navajo | 80 Minutes | 9 | 1400 lbs |
| King Air (200) | 60 Minutes | 9 | 2200 lbs |
| Beechcraft 1900D | 50 Minutes | 19 | 4000 lbs |
| CASA 212-200 | 80 Minutes | None | 4200 lbs |
| Nome to Anadyr (or Anadyr to Nome): | |||
| Aircraft | Flight Time | # of Seats | Load Available |
| King Air (200) | 135 Minutes | 9 | 1900 lbs |
| Beechcraft 1900D | 120 Minutes | 19 | 3600 lbs |
| CASA 212-200 | 180 Minutes | None | 3100 lbs |
| Anchorage to Provideniya, non-stop (or Provideniya to Anchorage, non-stop): | |||
| Aircraft | Flight Time | # of Seats | Load Available |
| King Air (200) | 3 Hours | 9 | 2000 lbs |
| Beechcraft 1900D | 2.8 Hours | 19 | 3100 lbs |
| CASA 212-200 | 4 Hours | None | 3300 lbs |
| Anchorage to Anadyr, non-stop (or Anadyr to Anchorage, non-stop) | |||
| Aircraft | Flight Time | # of Seats | Load Available |
| King Air (200) | 4 Hours | 9 | 1600 lbs |
| Beechcraft 1900D | 3.5 Hours | 19 | 3000 lbs |
HOW MUCH WILL A FLIGHT COST?
Contact Bering Air for current charter rates and passenger seat fares.
Call (907) 443-5620 or email: Info@beringair.com
Contact Circumpolar Expeditionsfor current costs of a customized tour, which includes round trip airfare.
SEAT FARE PASSENGERS
Seat fares are sold on the empty legs of charters or when there is space on a charter. Contact Bering Air for current seat fare pricing.
SEAT FARE PASSENGERS ARE ALLOWED 50 POUNDS (22.5 Kilograms) OF BAGGAGE. Excess baggage is charged at the rate of $1.00 per pound, and is allowed only on a space-available basis.
NOTE: Space is limited by volume as well as by weight. Pack densely, with a preference for moderately sized, rather than large bags.
CHARTER CHECKLIST
- Arrange for invitation from Russian sponsor.
- Apply for visas.
- Arrange entry permission document.
- Contact Travel Coordinator at Bering Air’s Russian Desk to initiate reservation process. Required information for every passenger:
- Name on passport,
- Passport number
- Date of birth
- Nationality
- Travel dates
- Form of payment.
- Arrange transportation to Nome.
- Bering Air arranges for U.S. Customs/Immigration, landing rights for the flight, and flight operation authorization.
- Party flies to Nome, flight operates.
CHUKOTAVIA SCHEDULE
ChukotAvia, the regional successor to Aeroflot (Russian airline), serves Provideniya with weekly flights in the Summer and bi-weekly flights in the Winter.
Flights typically arrive in Provideniya from Anadyr about 12:00 p.m. local time and depart again at 1:00 p.m.
Connecting flights on ChukotAvia and Aeroflot are best arranged through your Russian hosts or colleagues.
ALASKA RUSSIAN TIME CHANGE
Travel across the International Dateline from Nome, Alaska to Chukotka Region, Russia and set your watch 21 hours ahead!
Bering Air passengers lose a day when they cross the International Dateline going over, and gain a day when they come back. For example, 10 a.m., May 1 in Nome, is 7 a.m. May 2, in Provideniya.
When you communicate with Russians about your travel plans, remember to specify which country's times and dates you mean.
Russian Travel Desk, Bering Air, Inc.
P.O. Box 1650
Nome, Alaska 99762-1650 U.S.A.
Open from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday
- Thursday
Phone (907) 443-8988
This phone number is also a message phone
Fax (907) 443-5919
E-mail: russiantravel@beringair.com