On 1 August 2025 Flynas launched flights from Vnukovo International Airport to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. Attending the opening ceremony for the new regular flight were Abdulrahman Sulaiman Al-Ahmed, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Moscow; Vladimir Poteshkin, the Deputy Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation; representatives of the Federal Air Transport Agency; Vnukovo International Airport CEO Dmitry Erzakovich; and Flynas CEO Bandar Abdulrahman Al-Mohanna.
The aircraft, which had departed from the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, landed at Vnukovo Airport and was met with a ceremonial water arch. The crew were greeted with flowers and souvenirs, and then, to mark the launch of the new route, the guests of honour cut a symbolic red ribbon.
In his welcome address, Deputy Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation Vladimir Poteshkin emphasised: «The launch of direct air services between our countries has been made possible thanks to three years of hard work by the Russian Ministry of Transport and Federal Air Transport Agency, in collaboration with our Saudi Arabian counterparts».
Dmitry Erzakovich, the CEO of Vnukovo International Airport, congratulated everyone present on the launch of the new route between Moscow and Riyadh, noting: «The start of our cooperation with Flynas is a significant event for Vnukovo Airport. We have been preparing for this moment for almost a year — on 8 August last year, specialists from the General Directorate of Civil Aviation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia arrived at our airport for the first time. Based on the results of their work, they recognised the high standards of service and passenger transportation safety. It is therefore a great honour for us to welcome the first flight from Riyadh today and to become a bridge connecting Russia and the Middle East. We are delighted to welcome our Saudi partners and are confident that the new route will strengthen business and cultural ties between our countries».
Flynas CEO and COO Bandar Abdulrahman Al-Mohanna emphasised: «We have launched our first Flynas flight from Riyadh to Moscow. The flight departed from King Khalid International Airport at 08:30, landing in Moscow at 14:00. Flights will operate three times a week, and we plan to expand to other regions of Russia in the near future. Our main target audience is tourists from Saudi Arabia and Russia who are interested in diverse and unique destinations such as AlUla and the Red Sea. There are also around 25 million Muslims living in Russia, so we are considering opening direct flights to Jeddah and Medina».
The new Riyadh–Moscow (Vnukovo) — Riyadh route offers significant opportunities to develop business cooperation and tourism between Russia and Saudi Arabia. Direct flights will offer passengers convenient connections between the two capitals and open up opportunities to visit famous Saudi attractions such as the historic district of Ed-Diriyah and the Rub' al Khali desert, as well as modern metropolises such as Jeddah. The route will also offer our fellow pilgrims convenient access to Mecca and Medina.
Flynas is one of the Middle East’s leading carriers, operating flights to over 70 destinations. The company puts flight safety and service quality to the first place, making it a popular choice among travellers. For flights between Moscow and Riyadh, the airline uses modern Airbus A320neo aircraft to ensure passenger comfort and safety.
Vnukovo International Airport is one of Russia’s largest air transport hubs. Every year, the airport handles more than 100,000 flights operated by Russian and foreign airlines. Its route network covers the entire territory of Russia, as well as countries near and far abroad. In 2019, Vnukovo International Airport broke its historical record and served over 24 million passengers. In 2023, Vnukovo became the first and only airport in Russia connected to the capital by metro. The Vnukovo airport complex, with a total area of about 300,000 square meters, can handle up to 35 million passengers a year.
For its contribution to the transport support of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in Great Patriotic War, the Vnukovo Airport team was awarded a letter of appreciation from the Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation, becoming a key link in the organization of commemorative events.In addition, Vnukovo Airport has been recognized as the best airport in the highest category, «International Airport, ” of the national award «Air Gate of Russia» for three years in a row as part of the National Exhibition of Civil Aviation Infrastructure (NAIS).
