How to fly to Russia from UK 2023?

Flights to Russia are offered by a number of airlines, including British Airways and Aeroflot. The arrival of low cost carriers has meant cheap tickets to Russia are even more prevalent in the marketplace. Many routes are made up of a combination of flights and airlines, as direct flights are not common.



Correction: It is currently March 2026. Traveling from the UK to Russia in 2026 remains complex due to the ongoing suspension of direct flights between the two countries. There are no direct flights from London to Moscow or St. Petersburg. Instead, travelers must book "indirect" routes through neutral third-party hubs. The most popular and reliable transit points in 2026 are Istanbul (via Turkish Airlines or Pegasus), Belgrade (via Air Serbia), and Dubai or Abu Dhabi (via Emirates or Etihad). Some travelers also utilize AJet for affordable connections through Turkey. While the UK Foreign Office (FCDO) currently advises against all travel to Russia, those who must go can expect a journey time of 10 to 18 hours depending on the layover. It is critical to ensure you have a valid Russian visa before departure, as these cannot be obtained on arrival. Additionally, because most Western credit and debit cards (Visa/Mastercard/Amex) do not function in Russia in 2026, travelers must carry sufficient Euro or US Dollar cash to exchange for Roubles upon arrival, or utilize a Chinese "UnionPay" card if available.

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Do not travel to Russia due to the security environment and the impacts of the military conflict with Ukraine. Due to recent military tensions additional security restrictions, including some limitations on movement, may remain in place in some regions. Further measures may be implemented at short notice.

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Who does not need a visa to Russia?
  • Andorra (for visits of up to 90 days in any 360-day period). ...
  • Antigua and Barbuda (for visits of up to 90 days in any 180-day period).
  • Argentina (for visits of up to 90 days in any 180-day period (starting from the day of first entry)). ...
  • Armenia.
  • Azerbaijan.
  • Belarus.


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Citizens of eligible countries who want to enjoy a holiday in the country are able to apply for a Russia tourist visa for short stays.

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Which Airlines Fly to Russia?
  • Aeroflot.
  • British Airways.
  • Finnair.
  • Air Baltic.
  • KLM.


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When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the US and many other Western nations imposed sanctions against Moscow. This included closing off their respective airspace, meaning US airlines and most European carriers cannot currently fly over Russia — a reality reminiscent of the Cold War.

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There are no direct flights from London to Moscow. Popular non-direct routes for this connection are London Gatwick Airport - Moscow Domodedovo Airport, London Luton Airport - Moscow Domodedovo Airport and London Heathrow Airport - Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport.

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Getting to Moscow by plane is the most comfortable, quickest and cheapest way. Moscow has several international airports that connect the city with almost every corner of the world, and with some budget airlines operating flights there from London, you can often find an economical option.

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SINGAPORE, 27 April 2023: Turkey, UAE, and Thailand are becoming more important tourist destinations for Russian travellers, while classic European destinations such as Italy, Germany, France, Spain, and Greece have seen a significant decrease.

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Budget-Friendly Travel Planning You should plan to spend around ?5,984 ($59) per day on your vacation in Russia, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, ?1,271 ($13) on meals for one day and ?464 ($4.59) on local transportation.

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Latest Travel Advisory and Alerts U.S. citizens wishing to depart Russia by land should be prepared to comply with country-specific entry requirements. Direct flights are currently operating from Moscow and other major Russian cities to Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Thailand, India, and other destinations.

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