Russian carriers set sights on Sarajevo flights

NEWS FLASH

Three Russian airlines have applied and received approval from the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency - Rosaviatsiya - to introduce flights from Moscow to Sarajevo. They include Nordwind and Red Wings Airlines, which have been granted up to seven flights per week each, as well as Ural Airlines which has been awarded rights to operate up to two weekly flights. Russian airlines must first seek approval from their local regulator before requesting flight permits from the country of their intended destination. However, despite being granted rights, Russian carriers do not have to act on them, or may do so months later. S7 Airlines was given permission to start up to three weekly flights between the two capital cities back in June of last year but is yet to launch operations. During the pre-pandemic 2019, 4.079 passengers travelled indirectly between Moscow and Sarajevo on a single itinerary, based on OAG data. Sarajevo Airport has announced that Nordwind Airlines will commence a two weekly operation from St Petersburg to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital on March 2.