Russia’s civil aviation authority Rosaviatsia has announced that airlines can resume daytime flights to and from Israel starting Thursday, marking a partial restoration of air connectivity following weeks of disruption.
The agency had suspended flights to Israel and Iran in late February after military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian territory. However, under the revised guidance, which will remain in place until at least May 15, Russian carriers can now operate flights between 7 a.m. and 1 a.m. Moscow time.
Meanwhile, Rosaviatsia advised airlines to conduct independent risk assessments before resuming operations, reflecting ongoing security concerns in the region. The decision follows the reopening of Israeli airspace after a recently announced two-week ceasefire.
In addition, Russian budget carrier Red Wings Airlines will be the first to restart regular service, with flights from Moscow’s Zhukovsky Airport to Tel Aviv scheduled to begin Friday, according to Interfax.
Furthermore, the Israel Airports Authority confirmed that several international airlines, including Etihad Airways, Hainan Airlines, Georgian Airways, and FlyOne, are also set to resume operations to Ben Gurion Airport.
However, Iranian airspace will remain closed until at least May 15, Rosaviatsia said. The authority also urged Russian carriers to suspend ticket sales for flights to the United Arab Emirates and advised rerouting flights to other Gulf destinations while adhering to enhanced safety measures.
Overall, the move signals cautious progress toward normalising regional air travel, although restrictions and security risks continue to shape aviation operations.
