Russia Ready to Resume Direct Flights with US If Sanctions Lifted, Aviation Authority Says

Moscow. The Russian Federal Air Transport Agency announced on Monday that Russia is prepared to resume direct air service with the United States on the condition that sanctions against Russian airlines are lifted.

Dmitry Yadrov, head of the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency, stated in an interview with the Rossiya-24 television channel, "Russia is generally ready to resume direct flights between the two countries."

He added, "The resumption of direct flights will come after the limitations imposed on Russian carriers are removed, and Russian aircraft arriving in the United States will be free from risks such as detention."

Following the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, the United States closed its airspace to Russian aircraft as part of a series of sanctions against Moscow. In response, Russia imposed similar restrictions on the United States.