First direct Riyadh–Moscow flight by Saudia marks deepening Saudi–Russian ties

📷Passenger aircrafts of Saudia, Saudi Arabia's national airline, and Russia’s Aeroflot stand near a terminal of Sheremetyevo international airport, outside Moscow, Russia October 10, 2025. REUTERS

Moscow, October 11, 2025 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The first direct passenger flight from Riyadh to Moscow, operated by Saudia, landed in the Russian capital on Friday, underscoring strengthening relations between the two energy producers.

Saudia said it will operate three weekly return flights to Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport, a move expected to boost travel for business, tourism, and official visits between the two countries.

The launch follows a rise in the number of Russian visitors to Saudi Arabia. In August, the Saudi low-cost carrier Flynas began operating three weekly flights between Riyadh and Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport, and is scheduled to open a Jeddah–Moscow route in December.

Diplomatic and economic ties between Saudi Arabia and Russia have strengthened in recent years. In 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for his role in facilitating a major prisoner exchange between the United States and Russia — the largest since the Cold War.