November 03, 2022

Lust for Almost-Wandering


Lust for Almost-Wandering
Neeeeee-oooowwwww! The Russian Life files

As Russia becomes ever more isolated and Russians' travel options wither, one airport that has seen a sharp decline in traffic is turning entrepreneurial.

The airport in Anapa is offering a flight experience for those desperate to get away, with only one catch: there's no actual flight.

Anapa's airport has begun what is being called the "I Wanna Fly" tour. Participants, who will pay 1500 rubles ($24) for the experience, arrive at the airport, get checked in, pass through security, wait at the gate, and board. The plane, however, doesn't actually take off; instead, the "passengers" are encouraged to poke their heads in the cockpit and lounge in a seat.

Of course, and ironically, most people only deal with the frustrations of airline travel with the promise of reaching a destination.

Anapa is located in Russian territory close to Ukraine, and so, thanks to the ongoing invasion, it has been largely closed. It's possible that the "I Wanna Fly" experience is a way to cope and feel a sense of normalcy.

No word on whether there are simulated delays, lost bags, or missed connections, however.

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