Saudi Arabia’s leading low-cost airline Flynas has launched its first-ever direct flight service between Riyadh and Moscow, marking a pivotal milestone in air connectivity and tourism cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Russia. The inaugural flight took off on August 1, 2025, from King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and landed at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow, opening a new chapter in bilateral relations.
The new route will operate three times a week, with Flynas deploying its advanced Airbus A320neo aircraft, offering travelers cost-effective and comfortable options to explore cultural, religious, and leisure destinations in both countries. The move directly supports Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the Kingdom’s economy by expanding its tourism and aviation sectors.
Saudi–Russia Travel Ties Deepen
According to data from the Moscow City Tourism Committee, Saudi visitor arrivals to Moscow have seen extraordinary growth, jumping 5.7 times in 2024 to reach 52,400 tourists, up from 9,200 in 2023. This upward trend reflects strong mutual interest in cultural exploration, enhanced by simplified visa processes and increased air access.
Flynas CEO Bandar Abdulrahman Al-Mohanna emphasized during the launch ceremony that the airline seeks to serve both Saudi and Russian travelers, with a particular focus on attracting visitors to emerging Saudi destinations such as Al-Ula, the Red Sea coast, and Islamic heritage cities like Jeddah and Medina.
Expanding Flynas’s Footprint in Russia
Flynas’s entry into the Russian market is part of a strategic global expansion. The airline currently operates to over 70 destinations across the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and North Africa. Its Riyadh–Moscow service not only opens a new route but lays the groundwork for future direct flights to Jeddah and Medina, catering to Russia’s significant 25 million-strong Muslim population. These expansions would enable easier access for Russian Muslims planning Hajj or Umrah pilgrimages.
Negotiations are already underway between Saudi and Russian aviation authorities to finalize operational frameworks for these religious routes. According to Flynas, early market analysis indicates strong demand from Russian travelers interested in both pilgrimage and leisure tourism.
Strong Government and Industry Support
The successful launch is backed by close coordination between Saudi’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) and Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya). These authorities are aligning air traffic rights and slot agreements to accommodate the rising volume of cross-border air travel.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Centre for Strategic Research (CSR) has announced initiatives to bring Saudi tour operators to Moscow for B2B exchange programs, cultural familiarization trips, and partnership development. This public-private effort aims to position Moscow as a welcoming, year-round destination for Gulf travelers.
Moreover, the introduction of electronic visa systems and visa waivers for select nationalities has further encouraged Saudi citizens to explore Russian cities such as St. Petersburg, Kazan, and Sochi, beyond just Moscow.
Saudia to Follow with Additional Flights
National carrier Saudia is also entering the Saudi–Russia route network, with plans to begin its own direct Riyadh–Moscow service on October 10, 2025. The presence of both Flynas and Saudia on the same route will increase competition, boost seat availability, and give passengers more flexibility in scheduling.
This dual-airline presence is expected to stimulate business travel, education exchanges, and high-value tourism. Russian tour operators, in turn, are exploring partnerships with Saudi DMCs (Destination Management Companies) to develop customized itineraries, particularly for medical tourism, Red Sea diving, desert retreats, and Islamic heritage sites.
Vision 2030 and Tourism Growth
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 tourism blueprint targets 150 million tourists by 2030, including 70 million international visitors. Key pillars include infrastructure investment, hospitality expansion, and aviation liberalization. Flynas plays a critical role in this plan, with its current growth rate supporting connectivity to underutilized airports and secondary cities in both domestic and international markets.
Meanwhile, Russia, aiming to diversify its inbound tourism markets, has welcomed increased Gulf engagement. With recent declines in European arrivals, Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia have become high-priority tourism markets. Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development has highlighted the importance of improving air access and tourism promotion with GCC countries.
Looking Ahead
As Flynas charts new skies with its historic Riyadh–Moscow route, the airline positions itself as a key enabler of cultural diplomacy, religious tourism, and bilateral commerce between Saudi Arabia and Russia. The expansion strengthens aviation cooperation while deepening people-to-people exchanges.
Further route developments to Medina and Jeddah would support not just religious travel, but also open Saudi Arabia’s diverse landscapes and tourism offerings to a broader Russian audience. With Saudia’s upcoming services and rising demand, the new Riyadh–Moscow air bridge signals a long-term commitment to cross-border connectivity and sustainable tourism growth.
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