Nikita Kondratyev, the Director of Multilateral Economic Cooperation at Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development, has announced plans to initiate direct flights from Russia to Saudi Arabia starting in early 2025.
Kondratyev revealed that efforts are underway to establish direct air links not only with Saudi Arabia but also with Malaysia.
“We expect to launch direct flights to the Kingdom by the beginning of 2025. This should double or even triple the tourist influx from these countries,” Kondratyev stated.
In his remarks, Kondratyev also mentioned geopolitical tensions with South Korea, indicating that it is too soon to discuss direct flights to that region.
As of now, Russian citizens can travel directly to 40 countries. June alone saw the inauguration of 20 new flight destinations, along with additional routes to China and Vietnam.
“For countries where direct flights are already operational, we are actively working to expand our air travel network.
Everything primarily depends on demand. If there’s significant demand for tourist flights, direct connections will follow,” Kondratyev added.
In July, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, also serving as the Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, engaged in a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The discussion centred around key issues of mutual interest, highlighting the strengthening ties between the two nations.
During the phone call, the Saudi Crown Prince and President Putin reviewed bilateral relations, exploring various avenues for enhancing cooperation across different sectors.
This dialogue underscores the ongoing commitment of both countries to deepen their partnership and address shared concerns on the international stage.
