summary
- Many major airlines still operate scheduled flights to Russia, including Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Air China, Turkish Airlines, and El Al.
- These airlines offer multiple daily flights to Moscow and other destinations in Russia using a variety of aircraft.
- Other regional airlines in the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and Eastern Europe also operate flights to Russia, taking advantage of Russian airspace to achieve cost advantages over Western carriers. .
One year has passed since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine. Many Western countries in the Americas and Europe have imposed sanctions on Russia, and major airlines have completely suspended flights to Russia. Some countries, such as the United States, have gone so far as to cut off all industrial and aviation support for Russian-owned aircraft.
Many countries still have regular flights to various destinations in Russia. Simple Flying has compiled a list of the main airlines still operating in Russia and also highlighted other airlines in their respective regions.The analysis is based on Data from RusTourismNews.com
1 emirates airlines
Multiple daily flights to Moscow and St. Petersburg
| Other airlines in this region | origin |
| etihad airways | United Arab Emirates |
| qatar airways | qatar |
| gulf air | bahrain |
| oman air | oman |
| fly dubai | United Arab Emirates |
| air arabia | United Arab Emirates |
| Jazeera Air | Kuwait |
Emirates, the largest airline in the Middle East, operates multiple daily flights between its hub in Dubai and Russia. The airline operates up to three flights a day between Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Moscow Domodevo (DME) and up to two flights a day between St. Petersburg (LED). Emirates operates a combination of A380s and Boeing 777-300ERs to Moscow, and Triple Sevens to St. Petersburg.
Photo: Thiago B. Trevisan | Shutterstock
The remaining two of the Middle East Big Three, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways, also operate scheduled flights to multiple destinations in Russia from their respective hubs in Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Doha (DOH). Additionally, a variety of full-service and low-cost airlines operate flights to Russia, including flydubai and Air Arabia.
2 ethiopian airlines
4 flights a week to Moscow
| Other airlines in this region | origin |
| royal air maroc | Morocco |
| nouvelle air | tunisia |
| egyptair | Egypt |
| air warmer | Egypt |
| Algerian Airlines | algeria |
| Almasria Universal Airlines | Egypt |
Africa is also a region where many airlines have regular flights to Russia. One of the continent’s largest airlines, Ethiopian Airlines operates four weekly flights between its hubs in Addis Ababa (ADD) and Moscow (DME). The Ethiopians operate the -8 Dreamliner, the smallest version of the Boeing 787, on this route.
African countries sign aviation development agreement with Russia
Negotiations between Russia and Africa have brought positive results in their respective aviation sectors.
Photo: Airbus
Other major African airlines such as Royal Air Maroc, EgyptAir and Air Algeria fly to various destinations in Russia. Although some airlines do not fly directly to or from Russian airports, they operate in Russian airspace, giving them efficiency and cost advantages over large Western carriers.
3 Air China
1 flight per day to Moscow
| Other airlines in this region | origin |
| Sichuan Airlines | China |
| vietjet airline | Vietnam |
| srilankan airlines | Sri Lanka |
| mongolian airlines | mongolia |
China enjoys an open air agreement with Russia, giving it a significant advantage over Western airlines. Several airlines from China and the Asia-Pacific region operate regular flights to Russia. His three major airlines operate regular flights to Russia: Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines. Air China and China Eastern fly once a day between their bases in Beijing (PEK) and Shanghai (PVG) and Moscow Sheremetyevo (SVO), respectively. China Southern Airlines operates a schedule of 4 flights per week between Guangzhou (CAN) and his SVO.
Russia still wants to cooperate with China on long-range aircraft program
Russia hopes to leverage its strengths to provide key components to the C929 project.
Photo: Airbus
Sichuan Airlines and Vietjet operate scheduled flights to multiple destinations in Russia. All Chinese airlines use Russian airspace for flights to Europe and the Americas, benefiting from shorter and more economical routes than other airlines.
Four Turkish Airlines
Multiple daily flights to Moscow and St. Petersburg
| Other airlines in this region | origin |
| Pegasus Airlines | turkey |
| air serbia | Serbia |
| tailwind airline | turkey |
| Corendon Air | turkey |
| Bellavia | Belarus |
| anadolu jet | turkey |
Turkish Airlines, Turkey’s national carrier, operates multiple daily flights to various destinations in Russia. The airline operates six daily flights between its hubs Istanbul Airport (IST) and Moscow Vnukovo (VKO), primarily using Airbus A330 aircraft. The airline also operates three daily flights between IST and St. Petersburg (LED) using Airbus A320 family aircraft.
Reports that some Russian airlines may start flying to Turkish airlines
Pegas Touristic, the parent company of Azul Air and Nord Wind Airlines, is reportedly planning to launch a new leisure airline out of Turkey.
Photo: MBekir I Shutterstock
Other major Eastern European airlines such as Tailwind, Corendon, Berevia and Air Serbia all operate scheduled flights to Russia. Air Serbia flies to his four cities in Russia: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan and Sochi. Similarly, Pegasus Airlines operates multiple routes to Russian destinations per week.
Five El Al
2 flights per day to Moscow
| Other airlines in this region | origin |
| royal jordan | Jordan |
| chumwings | Syria |
| Syria Airlines | Syria |
| iraqi airlines | Iraq |
| Mahan Air | Iran |
Israel’s El Al operates regular flights to and from Russia. The airline operates up to two flights per day between Tel Avia Ben Gurion (TLV) and Moscow (DME). The 5 hour 50 minute non-stop service will be operated by the airline’s Boeing 737-900 aircraft. Return to TLV is scheduled for 5 hours and 25 minutes.
Photo: Vytautas Kielatis | Shutterstock
Other regional airlines such as Royal Jordanian, Cham Wings, Syrian Airlines, Iraqi Airways and Mahan Air also operate scheduled flights to several destinations in Russia. Most of these airlines operate flights to Russia using single-aisle aircraft.
What do you think about airlines still operating in Russia and abroad? Share your opinion in the comments section.
