Flights by Israeli Airline El Al recommence to Russia, ending a four-month halt.
Restarting Flights to Moscow: El Al's Return and the Saga of Aviation Sanctions
Israeli airline El Al is set to resume flights to Moscow on May 1, marking an end to a four-month hiatus. This decision comes amidst a complex tapestry of geopolitical tensions, aviation restrictions, and sanctions that have shaped global air travel since February 2022.
The last time El Al flew to the Russian capital was in late December 2024, following a horrific incident that shook the world. An airplane, en route from Baku to Grozny in Russia's Chechen Republic, was brought down during a drone attack. The crash, which took place on Dec. 25 near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan, claimed the lives of 38 passengers.
According to a source speaking to Reuters, a fragment of a Russian Pantsir missile was extracted from the wreckage of the downed aircraft, and it now rests in the hands of Azerbaijani authorities. The sudden change in the plane's course and the fatal outcome of the incident have left a chilling mark on international aviation.
El Al's decision to recommence flights to Moscow was not made lightly. The company carefully assessed the current situation and held discussions with the relevant authorities before giving the green light.
In the wake of the invasion of Ukraine, Moscow closed its skies to airlines from 36 countries, including all 27 European Union members. Israel, despite condemning Russia's actions and providing humanitarian aid to Kyiv, has refrained from implementing direct economic measures against Moscow. In turn, Ukraine expressed solidarity with Israel following a deadly attack by Hamas terrorist in October 2023.
Russia has been actively lobbying for the easing of aviation restrictions, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stating that Moscow has requested the U.S. to lift sanctions on its state airline, Aeroflot. However, Washington has yet to respond. Lavrov implied that the potential restoration of direct U.S.-Russia flights may hinge on this decision.
Ukrainian officials have cautioned against such concessions, fearing they could provide Moscow with both military and economic advantages. In an opinion article for the Guardian, Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak argued that lifting aviation sanctions would be detrimental to global security.
Since February 2022, aviation restrictions between Russia and sanctions-imposing nations have generally remained in place, with recent efforts to ease them receiving resistance. The EU maintains a full airspace ban for Russian aircraft, forbidding both overflights and landings. The U.S. prohibits all Russian aircraft operations, while Russia retaliated by closing its airspace to EU, UK, Canadian, and US carriers. These reciprocal bans have forced rerouted flights, adding significantly to Europe-Asia routes.
As of April 2025, no significant easing of aviation sanctions has occurred, with EU resistance proving a critical barrier to any potential U.S.-Russia deals. Aeroflot has since suspended nearly all of its international flights, excluding those to Belarus. Airlines like Finnair have adapted by using polar routes to bypass Russian airspace.
El Al's decision to reinitiate flights to Moscow signifies a slow, fledgling move towards normalcy in a world still reeling from the reverberations of political tension and conflict. Yet, the line between diplomacy and compromise remains finely drawn, particularly as Ukraine and the UK announced new, unrelated sanctions packages in April 2025, further complicating the geopolitical chessboard.
- The Azerbaijani authorities are currently in possession of a fragment of a Russian Pantsir missile, extracted from the wreckage of an airplane that was downed in 2024.
- El Al's decision to restart flights to Moscow in 2023 was preceded by a comprehensive evaluation of the political climate and discussions with relevant authorities.
- Amidst the complexities of war-and-conflicts, politics, and general news, aviation sanctions have heavily impacted the global airline industry since February 2022.
- In the midst of ongoing tensions, Ukraine has expressed concerns about potential concessions regarding aviation restrictions, fearing they might provide Russia with strategic advantages.
