Russian flag carrier Aeroflot. has called for a balance between Russian and foreign carriers when granting foreign airlines permission to operate flights to Russia.
The proposal was raised by Aeroflot CEO Sergey Aleksandrovsky at the 2026 Eastern Economic Forum (EEF-2026), as foreign airlines continue to increase their share of Russia’s international passenger traffic.
According to Aleksandrovsky, foreign airlines now account for nearly 50% of international routes to and from Russia. Passenger traffic operated by foreign carriers has increased by approximately 15.7% year on year during the period so far in 2026.
Russian Airlines See Limited International Growth
According to data from the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR), Russian airlines carried 12.81 million passengers on international routes during the first half of 2026, representing an increase of just 0.6% compared with the same period last year.
The number of international passengers carried by foreign airlines increased from approximately 10.5 million to 11.8 million, representing growth of around 12.5%.
Aeroflot recorded stronger growth among Russian carriers. Its international passenger traffic increased from 4.57 million to 5.34 million, corresponding to growth of approximately 16.8%.
ATOR highlights importance of international flight options
Artur Muradyan, ATOR Vice President for International Tourism and General Director of Space Travel, said accessibility to international air transport and the availability of flight options are important for Russians travelling abroad.
Muradyan supported granting foreign airlines permission to operate flights to Russia, saying the continued operation of these carriers demonstrates that international transport connections remain in place.
He said the increase in foreign airline capacity was not simply because Russian airlines did not want to operate to certain destinations. In some markets, Russian carriers are unable to provide the required capacity or are less competitive on price than foreign airlines.
Russian Capacity Limited in Several Destinations
,Muradyan identified Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Saudi Arabia and Morocco among markets where regular air transportation from Russia remains insufficient.
He noted that Aeroflot does not operate regular services to these destinations, while local airlines from these countries operate flights to Russia.
Traditional charter model losing ground
The ATOR Analytical Service said Russia’s tourism-oriented air transport market has undergone significant changes in recent years.
The traditional charter model, in which a tour operator purchases almost the entire capacity of an aircraft, is becoming less common. Instead, tour operators are increasingly purchasing seats on regular services operated by Russian and foreign airlines through block seat or allotment agreements.
Under this model, passengers of two or three different tour operators can travel on the same aircraft, while part of the aircraft’s capacity may remain available for open sales.
According to ATOR, this practice is becoming increasingly widespread on mass tourism routes. It enables tour operators to control package tour costs while maintaining high-volume air transport capacity.
ATOR’s preliminary assessment indicates that, depending on the season, transportation based on block seats accounts for 10% to 30% of international flights.
Scope of any new flight permit rules will be key
ATOR said the scope of any potential regulation will be important, particularly whether it would apply only to traditional charter flights or also restrict tour operators’ ability to purchase block seats on regular services operated by foreign airlines.
The organization said restrictions on block seat arrangements could reduce tourism-related air transport capacity on popular international destinations.
ATOR’s Analytical Service also stated that such a scenario could reduce flight options for tourists.If demand remains stable, it could also lead to higher airfares and package tour prices, while a contraction in international air transport supply could increase air travel costs for Russian passengers.
