If you live in Cluj, or you visit it, you probably know that it has a very busy airport. (Well, busy for its size.) Lines can be very long to get through to a few terminals. There are flights at all times of day and night. And, while there are no flights across oceans, there are flights to many parts of Europe and the near east.
Now, unless you’ve been living under a rock, you can probably guess why direct flights to Tel Aviv were cancelled a few years ago. There is more than one dangerous conflict in the region, and no one wants their airplane to be hit by a drone or a missile. Yet, Wizzair opened direct flights to Tel Aviv last month, and apparently there have been no incidents. (I do not see as many tourists that appear to be from that part of the world as I saw five years ago, but you can buy the tickets.)
It isn’t the cheapest destination of Wizzair, but it shows up on the list if you just want to take tickets to “anywhere.” Why would you just want to go anywhere? You have your reasons. (The cheapest destination is Brussels Charleroi, but the times means that it is difficult to get a return ticket by metro… which means you might end up spending a lot of money to get to the airport to go back. And if you figure in hotel prices, no, Brussels is not the cheapest destination, far from it.)
Now, I have no idea if Tel Aviv is a nice city, I’m not exactly dying to go there. I hear that there are too many escape rooms, in addition to the problems we see in the news. Cluj has escape rooms, so why fly away to find more?
But, the AnimaWings thing is bigger news to me. It’s one of the few Airlines I found to go to Bucharest.
- Bran
- How can you live in Romania and not visit Bucharest?
- Stan
- I tried to, but AnimaWings stopped flying there.
- Bran
- Where are you going to go instead, Tel Aviv?
- Stan
- Too expensive.
- Bran
- Brussels?
- Stan
- Too dangerous.
- Bran
- Then where?
- Stan
- I think I’m just going to Romania.
- Bran
- That joke doesn’t work with your accent you dolt. Now where are you going to spend your holiday?
- Stan
- Do I get a free ticket?
- Bran
- Of course you don’t get a free ticket, who do you think I am, the Wizard of Oz?
- Stan
- Well, there’s no harm in asking. Are you the Wizard of Oz?
- Bran
- No. I’m not the Wizard of Oz and this is not fantasy land.
- Stan
- So, are you saying that I don’t get a free ticket?
- Bran
- Of course you don’t get a free ticket. Have you ever heard of anyone flying without paying for it?
- Stan
- Yes?
- Bran
- Who?
- Stan
- The pilot.
- Bran
- Well, you’re not a pilot now, are you! And I don’t think they’d hire you as a stewardess either.
- Stan
- I don’t know about that. Have you ever flown with Ryan Air?
- Bran
- Fine then. Apply for a job with Ryan Air, or whoever think might hire you. But if you don’t work for the airlines, then you’ll have to pay for a ticket like everybody else.
- Stan
- Well, (pause, turn), Well, if I don’t get a free ticket, then why should I go anywhere?
- Bran
- Because that’s just… this is what I have to put up with!
- Stan
- What about what I have to put up with?
- Bran
- Why you little!
You can also fly to North Africa. So, three continents, that’s not bad for a non-capital city.
(Stan and Bran are Laurel and Hardy in Romanian. “Stan și Bran.”)
You can still take the train to Bucharest, or go by bus, or drive. It might be more of an “eco” choice, but it takes longer, and you’ll be tempted to get all kinds of treats along the way.
Anyway, other budget airlines appear to be operating as normal, and there is still one airline flying to Bucharest (Tarom) if that’s your preferred destination.