Despite the hiatus, new international flights are launched to Russian airports

Moscow’s Sheremetyevo has welcomed its first flight from Nha Trang, operated by Vietnam Airlines last week (SVO)

In a surprising development amidst the increasing announcements of closed borders and wholesale flight cancellations, two Russian airports have nevertheless announced the launch of new international routes. Last week Moscow’s Sheremetyevo has welcomed its first flight from Nha Trang (Vietnam), operated by Vietnam Airlines. The twice-weekly service will operate from the airport’s terminal D, utilising Boeing 787-900 airliners. The flight is advertised as a leisure destination with its corresponding benefit of a visa-free 15-day grace period.

At the same time, Vladivostok airport, which serves Russia’s far eastern region, has announced today the arrival of an All Nippon Airways (ANA) service from Tokyo’s Narita airport. ANA will operate thrice-weekly utilizing 146-seat (eight business and 138 economy class) Airbus A320neos on the two-and-half-hour flight. This is ANA’s first foray into running a service to Russia.

Just three weeks ago, JAL Japan Airlines launched flights from Tokyo’s Narita Airport to Vladivostok, the first Japanese carrier to operate flights to the airport. Last year, the airport registered an 87 per cent increase in passenger traffic between Vladivostok and Japanese destinations.