The possible resumption of direct flights between Russia and the U.S. could have a positive indirect effect on the Russian economy, particularly in logistics and tourism, said Dmitry Evdokimov, a research fellow at the Gaidar Institute’s Laboratory for Quantitative Analysis of Economic Effects, in a comment to Prime.
“Indirectly, this could serve as an important signal to the global aviation industry, leading to the opening of new routes, reduced sanction risks, and the return of some international airlines to our market. This would benefit logistics and tourism. While it would create a more competitive environment for Russian airlines, it would also open up opportunities to expand route networks,” the expert said.
Evdokimov emphasized that the direct effect might be modest, as traffic would likely shift from connecting flights to direct routes. Nevertheless, in general, the restoration of air travel with the U.S. would create new opportunities for the development of Russian aviation.