Russia Resumes Flights to France
Moscow and Saint Petersburg have reopened to direct flights from Paris and Nice after a pandemic hiatus. Aeroflot and Air France lead the return, while COVID-19 travel rules and vaccine recognition remain key hurdles.
Following Germany and 47 other partner countries, Moscow has decided to resume flights from France—its first since the onset of the pandemic.
Since late July, direct flights from Paris or Nice to Moscow and Saint-Petersburg operate several times per week. Please note that Russia’s e-Visa remains suspended, though certain visitor types may still secure consular visas for compelling reasons.
A quirk of timing: the move comes as the EU and Russia weigh lifting travel restrictions (quarantine, testing, etc.) for vaccinated travelers by recognizing each other’s digital health passes. France’s reluctance to endorse Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine remains a sticking point.
Russia is a perennial favorite for French travelers. In 2019, about 1.5 million French people visited the country, a 10% increase over the previous year—driven by cultural, business and winter-sports tourism.
Visitors are drawn by Russia’s millennia-old history and vast landscapes: the Kremlin and Red Square in Moscow; Saint Basil’s Cathedral; Ivèrsky Palace; the world-class State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg; the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow. The arts, literature and Orthodox heritage offer rich cultural appeal.
Business travel is another major draw. Russia’s global economic heft brings executives to conferences and trade events, while some professionals see job opportunities in sectors such as tech, energy and finance.
Winter sports enthusiasts also flock to iconic resorts: Sochi and Krasnaya Polyana on the Black Sea, and inland locations like Nizhny Tagil for powder snow and competition-grade slopes.
Airlines operating direct flights between France and Russia
The two primary carriers are Air France and Aeroflot. Air France flies nonstop to both Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Aeroflot adds Sochi, Kazan and Novosibirsk to those routes.
Low-cost operator Transavia and Russian carriers Ural Airlines and Utair round out the schedule. Transavia serves Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Ural Airlines flies to Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Sochi and Kazan, while Utair links Paris and Nice with Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk and Irkutsk.
Outlook
Air traffic between the two countries is poised to expand. Russia’s status as a tourism powerhouse—and rising French interest—will keep demand high. Economic growth should further buoy business travel.
Airlines are expected to bolster fleets, upgrade service and introduce new routes and competitive fares to gain market share.
