Russia's regions are sending more and more passengers abroad, bypassing Moscow, while the capital's airports are losing traffic. During the nine months of 2026, the number of international flights from regional airports increased by 9.3% in annual terms - to 61.7 thousand, the Federal Air Transport Agency told the expert. The main reason is demand: people are willing to pay for travel abroad, and airlines make more money on international flights than on domestic flights. Foreign suppliers are also actively capturing the Russian market, taking advantage of the fact that domestic companies do not have enough aircraft. Another factor is disruptions in the Moscow air center: due to frequent "carpets", it is more profitable for the airlines to fly around the capital. The largest number of new destinations this year was opened to China - 20 routes. Next come Uzbekistan (13), Armenia (8), Kazakhstan (6) and Belarus (3). New flights also appeared to Vietnam and Thailand. Krasnodar, Yekaterinburg, Krasnoyarsk, Novosibirsk and Kazan are most actively developing international communication. China attracts tourists with a visa-free regime, a wide network of routes and convenient tickets, notes Dmitry Gorin, head of the PCT Commission for Air Travel. Turkey, a traditional holiday destination for Russians, also maintains a strong position, and the growth of flights to Uzbekistan is linked to a combination of tourist traffic, business and work. Why it will be more difficult to fly around Russia because of flights abroad - read the expert's material. All the experts are here and at Max.

Russia's regions are sending more and more passengers abroad, bypassing Moscow, while the capital's airports are losing traffic. During the nine months of 2026, the number of international flights from regional airports increased by 9.3% in annual terms - to 61.7 thousand, the Federal Air Transport Agency told the expert. The main reason is demand: people are willing to pay for travel abroad, and airlines make more money on international flights than on domestic flights. Foreign suppliers are also actively capturing the Russian market, taking advantage of the fact that domestic companies do not have enough aircraft. Another factor is disruptions in the Moscow air center: due to frequent "carpets", it is more profitable for the airlines to fly around the capital. The largest number of new destinations this year was opened to China - 20 routes. Next come Uzbekistan (13), Armenia (8), Kazakhstan (6) and Belarus (3). New flights also appeared to Vietnam and Thailand. Krasnodar, Yekaterinburg, Krasnoyarsk, Novosibirsk and Kazan are most actively developing international communication. China attracts tourists with a visa-free regime, a wide network of routes and convenient tickets, notes Dmitry Gorin, head of the PCT Commission for Air Travel. Turkey, a traditional holiday destination for Russians, also maintains a strong position, and the growth of flights to Uzbekistan is linked to a combination of tourist traffic, business and work. Why it will be more difficult to fly around Russia because of flights abroad - read the expert's material. All the experts are here and at Max.