Russia suggests continuing direct flights with US

(MENAFN) Moscow has suggested resuming direct air travel with the United States as part of ongoing efforts to improve bilateral relations, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Friday following diplomatic discussions in Türkiye.

The U.S. suspended flights and closed its airspace to Russian airlines in 2022, alongside other Western nations, in response to the Ukraine conflict. Since then, passengers traveling between the two countries have relied on connecting flights through hubs like Istanbul and Dubai. In retaliation, Moscow banned flights from 36 "unfriendly nations," including EU member states and Canada, forcing Western airlines to take longer, more expensive routes. Some European carriers have since criticized the EU’s airspace restrictions, arguing they create unfair competition with Chinese airlines, which continue to fly over Russia.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the proposal to reinstate direct flights was raised during a meeting with U.S. representatives in Istanbul on Thursday. The talks, which aimed to ease tensions that escalated under the previous administration, also focused on restoring normal operations at diplomatic missions.

Moscow described the discussions as “substantive,” noting that both sides agreed to maintain dialogue. “Specifically, the U.S. was invited to consider the possibility of restoring direct air services,” the ministry stated.

However, experts remain skeptical about an immediate return of direct flights, citing ongoing restrictions on Russian airlines in European airspace, which complicate potential routes.

The meeting in Türkiye follows high-level talks in Saudi Arabia and a phone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump earlier in February. Trump has since suggested that Washington may consider lifting sanctions against Russia “at some point” as part of broader peace negotiations regarding the Ukraine conflict.

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