Let's Jetset: International Flights Resume for Summer Adventures, But at a Steep Price!
Airlines from abroad resume services to Russia: Two companies restart direct flights to Moscow in May
Illustration: Creative Pixels.
Exciting times ahead for globetrotters! Two beloved airlines are making a comeback to Russia, setting the stage for an action-packed summer vacation. However, the cost is sky-high.
RUSSIA, MOSCOW
Who and How: Israel's prime carrier, El Al, will revive its Russian connection, launching flights from Moscow's Domodedovo Airport to Tel Aviv on May 1. El Al had put the brakes on flights to Russia at the tail end of December.
Schedules: El Al's plan is to operate seven flights per week—one each on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, and two on Thursdays and Sundays. Flights will be handled by Boeing 737-900 aircraft, catering to 175 passengers. Departure times from Moscow are slated for 14:50 and 20:50, while flights from Tel Aviv will kick off at 8:00 AM and 13:55 each day (where there are double flights).
Apart from El Al, Red Wings and "Azimuth" Russian airlines continue to operate flights from Moscow and Sochi to Israel. Red Wings will introduce a route from St. Petersburg to Tel Aviv starting June.
Keep it locked, because there'll be a whopping 34 weekly flights to the Holy Land this summer!
"The return of air communication between Russia and Israel is fast-approaching pre-pandemic levels. Travelers now have greater options in terms of both price and departure dates," said Vladimir Shklyar, Director of the Russian Representative Office of the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, and the authorized Minister of the Embassy of the State of Israel in Russia.
Flight Time: 5.5 hours
What's Tempting Travelers: A fusion of spirituality and sun, sand, and sea, Israel knows how to entice tourists. Jerusalem's holy sites, such as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Western Wall, and others, touch the heartstrings of religious travelers. But even secular visitors can't resist Tel Aviv's beaches, its Mediterranean allure, the legendary Masada fortress in the Judean Desert, and the unique healing waters of the Dead Sea.
Words of caution: The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a warning to Russian travelers visiting Israel in March, urging them to exercise caution and avoid areas near Syria, Lebanon, the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank.
However, tensions in tourist hotspots seem to have cooled down, as confirmed by journalists of KP.RU.
Cost: Traveling from mid-May to June will set you back around 72,000 rubles (round trip, no baggage) or 80,000 rubles (round trip, with baggage).
Visas: Luckily, no visa is required, but an electronic entry permit ETA-IL must be obtained no later than 3 days before your flight. You can apply online, submit necessary documents, and pay the fee of 25 shekels (approximately 700 rubles) on the website of the Population and Immigration Authority (israel-entry.piba.gov.il). Here's the catch—Russian cards aren't accepted, so you may need an international card or settle the fee via the VFS Global visa center by paying an additional 5 dollar service fee in rubles, either in cash or with a Russian bank card.
VIETNAM, HANOI
Who and How will Fly: Returning to the Russian stage is Vietnam Airlines, the national carrier, on May 8, after a three-year absence. It will fly between Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport and Hanoi, Vietnam's capital, twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Large Boeing 787-900 Dreamliners, accommodating 310 passengers, will depart Moscow at 17:40, and on the return flight from Hanoi at 10:45.
Other direct flights between Russia and Vietnam include "Aeroflot" to Ho Chi Minh City and the resort of Nha Trang from Moscow. From Irkutsk, "Iraero" flies to the island of Phu Quoc, Hanoi, and Nha Trang. In March-April, charter flights to Nha Trang were launched by major tour operators on the Azur Air and Ikar airlines. Hanoi, however, is a different, northern region of Vietnam worth exploring.
Vacation Mark Your Calendars:
- Leaving for Eilat: Red Wings will introduce direct flights from Moscow to Eilat, an Israeli resort on the Red Sea, starting June 12. Prior to the pandemic, there were over 20 flights a week connecting Russia to Eilat, but it's been half a decade since there's been a direct flight. A single flight on Thursdays will take off from Zhukovsky Airport on Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft, with a technical stop in Sochi. The total journey time is expected to be around 7.5 hours.
- Dreaming of Langkawi: Red Wings has recently been given approval by Rosaviatsiya to operate flights from Moscow to the resort island of Langkawi in Malaysia. Although specific dates aren't available, talks about direct air communication between Russia and visa-free Malaysia have been ongoing, making this a potential sunset destination in the near future.
Did You Know?
- More direct flights between Russia and Israel are now available, reaching almost pre-pandemic levels[5].
- Vietnam Airlines operates twice-weekly flights to Hanoi from Moscow, reintroducing this route three years after its suspension[8].
- Red Wings' resumption of flights to Eilat marks the first direct connection in five years[7].
- The aviation industry is witnessing a revival, with El Al, a leading Israeli airline, scheduled to resume flights to Moscow's Domodedovo Airport from May 1 after a brief hiatus.
- The resumption of El Al's flights will increase the number of weekly flights to Israel from Russia to a significant 34, offering travelers more options.
- Travelers looking for an exotic vacation can consider Vietnam Airlines, returning to Russia on May 8, offering twice-weekly flights from Moscow to Hanoi, Vietnam's capital, after a three-year absence.
- For those seeking relaxation, Red Wings will introduce direct flights from Moscow to Eilat, an Israeli resort on the Red Sea, starting June 12, marking the first direct connection in five years.
- To facilitate travel, Red Wings has also been given approval to operate flights from Moscow to the resort island of Langkawi in Malaysia, though specific dates are yet to be announced.
- The exciting travel opportunities come with a hefty price tag; flights to Israel from Russia will cost around 72,000 rubles (round trip, no baggage) or 80,000 rubles (round trip, with baggage) during mid-May to June.
