Three Russian carriers have received approval from the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency - Rosaviatsiya - to launch new flights to Sarajevo and Podgorica. The respective airlines must now seek approval from local aviation authorities in each of the aforementioned markets in order to commence operations. They reserve the right not to go ahead with the planned services. S7 Airlines has received the go ahead to introduce up to three weekly flights between Moscow Domodedovo Airport and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital. There are currently no flights between Russia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. During the pre-pandemic 2019, 4.079 passengers travelled indirectly between Moscow and Sarajevo, based on OAG data.

Two Russian carriers have received approval from the Russian aviation regulator to introduce services from Moscow to Podgorica. They include Nordwind Airlines and Ural Airlines. Nordwind has received permits for up to two weekly flights and Ural for one weekly rotation. There are no flights between Podgorica and Moscow, despite Russia being one of the largest air transport markets for Montenegro, however, most of the traffic is concentrated in Tivat. “Nonstop flights between Montenegro and Russia are in the interest of both countries and it is natural for them to be restored. We hope it will happen soon so tourists will be able to come to Montenegro”, the Montenegrin Minister for Economic Development, Jakov Milatović, said yesterday. In 2019, Moscow was Podgorica’s second busiest unserved route with 12.545 passengers travelling indirectly between the two cities.

Russian airlines have been ramping up their operations to the region as a number of European markets remain closed for Russian holidaymakers. Over the past few weeks, Russian carriers have launched new operations to Croatia, while Nordwind Airlines inaugurated services to Skopje yesterday. Russian citizens do not require visas to enter either Bosnia and Herzegovina or Montenegro. Furthermore, there are no coronavirus entry requirements into Montenegro, while a negative PCR test is needed to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina.