Air Arabia will further expand its Russian network in summer 2025 as airline seat capacity between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Russia continues to surge.
The LCC plans to launch flights connecting Sharjah and Sochi from June 27, operating three times per week using Airbus A320 aircraft. Sochi will become the sixth Russian city served by the airline from Sharjah, after Kazan, Moscow Domodedovo, Samara, Ufa and Yekaterinburg.
Air Arabia also provides nonstop services between Ras Al Khaimah and Moscow Domodedovo, as well as between Abu Dhabi and Moscow Domodedovo. Additionally, a route from Abu Dhabi to Yekaterinburg will start on Dec. 27, operating twice a week.
Group CEO Adel Al Ali says the expansion reenforces “the strong ties between the UAE and Russia” and will contribute “to the growth of tourism and trade between the two countries.”
Despite most major international airlines suspending operations to Russia in February 2022 due to Western sanctions following the war in Ukraine, several UAE-based carriers have maintained service. The UAE has publicly maintained a neutral stance on the conflict, advocating for “dialogue and diplomacy to achieve a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine” while keeping air connectivity with Russia intact.
Since the war began, the UAE has grown from being Russia’s third-largest international market to its largest by capacity. Data from OAG Schedules Analyser reveals that approximately 567,000 two-way seats are available between the UAE and Russia in December 2024, setting a record monthly high. This represents a 99% increase from December 2021 and a 62% rise compared to pre-pandemic levels in December 2019.
Analysis of schedules data shows that Air Arabia has recorded the largest percentage growth in capacity between the UAE and Russia since the invasion of Ukraine. The airline group has 106,500 two-way seats on offer in December 2024—a rise of 1,305% from December 2021 and 692% from December 2019.
Other carriers, including flydubai, Etihad Airways, Emirates and Aeroflot, have also made significant capacity increases compared to both pre-war and pre-pandemic levels. Flydubai is offering nearly 100,000 more two-way seats between the UAE and Russia this month than in December 2019, while Aeroflot has added almost 38,000 additional seats over the same period.
However, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi is one UAE-based airline that has opted to remain absent from the Russian market. The ULCC initially intended to return in October 2022, but suspended plans to resume flights to Moscow amid mounting criticism over its decision to relaunch the route.
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