This page compiles publicly available airspace and route information. It does not constitute operational advice. Passengers should consult their airline; operators should refer to official NOTAMs, EASA SIBs, and FAA advisories for current data.
Flying to Moscow
Sheremetyevo (SVO), Domodedovo (DME), Vnukovo (VKO) · Last reviewed: April 2026
Airport Overview
Moscow is served by three major international airports. Sheremetyevo International Airport (IATA: SVO, ICAO: UUEE) is the largest, located approximately 29 km northwest of central Moscow. Domodedovo (IATA: DME, ICAO: UUDD) sits 42 km south, and Vnukovo (IATA: VKO, ICAO: UUWW) is 28 km southwest. The Moscow air hub operates within Russian-managed FIR airspace, with traffic coordination handled by the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia).
According to published Rosaviatsia statistics, SVO handled approximately 40 million passengers in 2025. It serves as the hub for Aeroflot and operates two parallel runways. DME handles approximately 25 million passengers with two runways, and VKO approximately 18 million with one primary runway. Together, the three airports form one of Europe's largest airport systems by total passenger volume.
According to official EU Council Regulation 833/2014 (as amended) and US Department of Transportation orders, EU and US-registered carriers have been prohibited from operating to Russian airports since February-March 2022. These prohibitions were enacted as part of sanctions packages adopted by the EU Council and the US government. Reciprocally, according to published Russian government decisions, Russian airspace was closed to EU and US-registered aircraft.
Common Routes & Carrier Access
International service to Moscow is operated by a reduced set of carriers compared to pre-2022 levels. According to published airline schedules and IATA data:
Russian carriers: Aeroflot, S7 Airlines, Ural Airlines, and other Russian operators maintain international services to destinations in the Middle East, Central Asia, China, and select other countries, according to published schedules. Domestic service remains extensive across Russian airports.
Chinese carriers: According to published schedules, several Chinese airlines operate Moscow services, including connections to Beijing, Shanghai, and other Chinese cities.
Middle Eastern and Central Asian carriers: Airlines from Turkey, UAE, Qatar, and Central Asian states maintain services to Moscow according to published schedules. Turkish Airlines and Emirates are among operators with documented Moscow services.
According to EU Council decisions and US DOT orders, EU and US-registered airlines do not operate to Russian airports. Passengers traveling between the EU/US and Moscow use connecting services through third-country hubs (Istanbul, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and others) as documented in published booking data.
Airspace Conditions
According to EASA Conflict Zone Information Bulletins and FAA NOTAMs, Russian airspace is closed to EU and US-registered aircraft. EASA has published specific guidance prohibiting EU operators from entering Russian-controlled FIRs. The FAA has issued corresponding NOTAMs restricting US operator access. These restrictions have been in effect since early 2022.
According to published NOTAM databases and Eurocontrol data, Russian authorities have issued over 200 temporary airspace restrictions in 2025 alone, primarily related to drone activity in various regions. These temporary closures affect both domestic and permitted international operations, with published NOTAMs documenting temporary restrictions around multiple Russian airports including those in the Moscow area.
GPS interference in Russian airspace has been documented in multiple published sources. According to EASA Safety Information Bulletins and published pilot reports collected by IATA, GPS spoofing and jamming have been reported across wide areas of Russian airspace. The European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (Eurocontrol) has published guidance noting GPS unreliability affecting operations within and near Russian-controlled FIRs.
The closure of Russian airspace to EU and US carriers has affected global routing patterns, as documented by Eurocontrol and IATA. Flights between Europe and East Asia that previously transited Russian airspace now route via more southerly paths, adding documented flight time. According to published IATA data, Europe-Japan and Europe-Korea routings have been most significantly affected, with added flight times of 1-3 hours depending on the specific city pair.
What to Check Before Booking
Carrier registration and whether your airline operates to Russian airports under current EU/US/national restrictions
Published EASA Conflict Zone Information Bulletins and FAA advisories for Russian airspace
Your government's travel advisory for Russia, including any entry, exit, or transit restrictions
Insurance coverage terms, as some policies exclude destinations under government advisories
Current NOTAM status for temporary airspace restrictions at Moscow airports
Related
FlySafe compiles publicly available airspace, route, and airport data for informational purposes only. This page does not constitute flight safety advice, risk assessment, or an operational recommendation.
Airline operators must consult official NOTAMs, EASA SIBs, FAA advisories, and their own risk assessment processes. Passengers should contact their airline for current service status. Data sources include ICAO, EASA, FAA, Eurocontrol, and published airline schedules.