More than 60 airlines worldwide offer scheduled services to and from Russia.
Photo: Soos Jozsef | Shutterstock
SUMMARY
Many major airlines still operate scheduled services 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 airlines in the regions of the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Eastern Europe also operate flights to Russia, taking advantage of the country’s airspace and achieving cost advantages over Western carriers.
It has been one year since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Many western countries in the Americas and Europe put sanctions on Russia and major airlines stopped serving the country altogether. Some countries like the United States went as far as cutting all industrial and aviation support for Russian-owned aircraft.There still are numerous countries that operate scheduled services to various destinations in Russia. Simple Flying compiled a list of major airlines still operating in Russia, while highlighting other carriers in the respective regions. The analysis is based on data from RusTourismNews.com
1EmiratesMultiple daily flights to Moscow and St. Petersburg
Other airlines in the regionOriginEtihad AirwaysUAEQatar AirwaysQatarGulf AirBahrainOman AirOmanFly DubaiUAEAir ArabiaUAEJazeera AirwaysKuwait
The remaining two of the Middle Eastern big three, Etihad and Qatar Airways, also operate scheduled services to multiple destinations in Russia from their respective hubs in Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Doha (DOH). Additionally, a range of full-service and low-cost carriers, such as FlyDubai and Air Arabia, operate services to Russia.
2Ethiopian AirlinesFour times weekly service to Moscow
Other airlines in the regionOriginRoyal Air MarocMoroccoNouvel AirTunisiaEgypt AirEgyptAir CairoEgyptAir AlgerieAlgeriaAlMasria Universal AirlinesEgypt
Africa is another region where many airlines operate scheduled services to Russia. One of the largest airlines in the continent, Ethiopian Airlines, operates four times weekly service between its hub in Addis Ababa (ADD) and Moscow (DME). Ethiopians operate the smallest version of the Boeing 787, the -8 Dreamliner, on the route.
Russia-Africa negotiations have produced positive results for the respective aviation sectors.
Photo: Airbus
Other major carriers in Africa, including Royal Air Maroc, Egypt Air, and Air Algerie, among others, fly to various destinations in Russia. While some airlines do not directly operate in and out of Russian airports, they operate in Russian airspace, achieving efficiency and cost advantage over large Western carriers.
3Air ChinaOnce daily flight to Moscow
Other airlines in the regionOriginSichuan AirlinesChinaVietJet AirVietnamSrilankan AirlinesSri LankaMongolian AirlinesMongolia
China enjoys an open air agreement with Russia, giving it a significant advantage over Western airlines. Several Chinese and Asia-Pacific airlines operate scheduled services to Russia. The three largest air carriers, Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern, operate scheduled services to Russia. Air China and China Eastern operate once-daily service between their bases in Beijing (PEK) and Shanghai (PVG), respectively, to Moscow Sheremetyevo (SVO). China Southern operates a four-time weekly schedule between Guangzhou (CAN) and SVO.
Russia hopes to leverage its strengths to provide crucial components for the C929 project.
Photo: Airbus
Sichuan Airlines and VietJet operate scheduled services to multiple destinations in Russia. All Chinese carriers use the Russian airspace for their flights to Europe and the Americas, benefiting from shorter and more economical routing than other carriers.
4Turkish AirlinesMultiple daily flights to Moscow and St. Petersburg
Other airlines in the regionOriginPegasus AirlinesTurkeyAir SerbiaSerbiaTailwind AirlinesTurkeyCorendon AirlinesTurkeyBelaviaBelarusAnadolu JetTurkey
Turkey’s national carrier, Turkish Airlines, operates multiple daily flights to various destinations in Russia. The airline operates six daily flights between its hub at Istanbul Airport (IST) and Moscow Vnukovo (VKO), primarily using the Airbus A330 aircraft. The airline also operates a three-time daily service between IST and St. Petersburg (LED) using the Airbus A320 family aircraft.
Pegas Touristik, the parent company of Azur Air and Nordwind Airlines, is reportedly planning the launch of a new leisure airline out of Turkey.
Photo: MBekir I Shutterstock
Other major Eastern European carriers, including Tailwind, Corendon, Belevia, and Air Serbia, all operate scheduled flights to Russia. Air Serbia flies to four Russian cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, and Sochi. Similarly, Pegasus Airlines operates multiple weekly routes to Russian destinations.
Other airlines in the regionOriginRoyal JordanianJordanCham WingsSyriaSyrian AirlinesSyriaIraqi AirwaysIraqMahan AirIran
El Al of Israel operates scheduled services to and from Russia. The airline operates up to two daily services between Tel Avia Ben Gurion (TLV) and Moscow (DME). The 5 hours and 50 minutes nonstop service is operated on the carrier’s Boeing 737-900. The return leg to TLV is scheduled for 5 hours and 25 minutes.
Photo: Vytautas Kielaitis | Shutterstock
Other regional airlines, including Royal Jordanian, Cham Wings, Syrian Airlines, Iraqi Airways, and Mahan Air, operate scheduled services to several destinations in Russia. Most of these airlines operate flights to Russia using their single-aisle aircraft.
What are your thoughts on the airlines that still operate in and out of Russia? Share your opinion in the comments section.
