Tag Archives: Moscow

Oman Air has celebrated the arrival of its inaugural flight from Moscow to Salalah, marking the official launch of direct seasonal air services connecting the Russian capital with Dhofar. The milestone was commemorated with a welcome ceremony at Salalah Airport, presided over by His Excellency Dr. Ahmed bin Mohsen Al Ghassan, Charmain of Dhofar Municipality and attended by senior officials and representatives from Oman’s aviation and tourism sectors. The inaugural flight signals a significant step in Oman Air’s efforts to strengthen year-round tourism to Dhofar and expand international connectivity. Commenting on the launch, Ahmed Al Mahrouqi, Vice President of Global Sales at Oman Air, said, “The launch of direct charter services between Moscow and Salalah reflects our focus on developing high-potential source markets and delivering targeted connectivity. Russia is an important market for Oman Air, and this service makes it easier for travellers to access Dhofar while supporting tourism demand and local business across the season. We look forward to further expanding capacity and connectivity as the market develops.” The seasonal charter operation is expected to bring at least 7,000 visitors to Salalah during its first season, supporting hotels, tour operators and businesses across Dhofar. The service complements Oman Air’s broader network strategy and reinforces Salalah’s growing profile as a distinctive leisure destination for international travellers. The new route also aligns with national efforts to promote tourism development in southern Oman, highlighting Dhofar’s natural landscapes, cultural heritage and mild climate as key attractions for visitors from Europe and beyond.

flynas celebrated the launch of its direct flights between Jeddah and Moscow, effective 23 December. This launch further strengthens air connectivity with the Russian capital in collaboration with the Saudi Tourism Authority and the Air Connectivity Program, as part of flynas’ growth and expansion plan and in alignment with the Kingdom’s national objectives in the tourism and aviation sectors. The inauguration ceremonies for the new route were held at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow, where passengers on the inaugural flight were welcomed with commemorative gifts. Upon the aircraft’s arrival at Vnukovo International Airport, an official reception ceremony was held for the flight, marking the first direct route linking Jeddah and Moscow. The ceremony was attended by representatives from the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Moscow, flynas, the Russian Tourism Authority, and Vnukovo Airport. flynas will operate three weekly flights between King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow, becoming the first Saudi carrier to operate scheduled flights between the two cities. This follows the launch of the first regular direct flight between Riyadh and Moscow by a Saudi airline in August, operating four weekly flights between the two capitals. The airline remains committed to further expanding its destinations and routes to provide more reliable and convenient travel options for its guests, as part of its efforts to strengthen relations between the two countries. This expansion in the Russian aviation market aligns with flynas’ growth and expansion strategy launched under the title “We Connect the World to the Kingdom. It also supports the objectives of the National Civil Aviation Strategy, which aims to enable national air carriers to connect the Kingdom of …

The Meet Global MICE Congress (MGMC), the largest international event in the business tourism sector concluded in Moscow. It is held for the third time in 2025 this year, the event welcomed guests from 35 BRICS nations and countries of the Global South to share expertise and build new partnerships in the field of MICE tourism. The congress is attended by over 2,500 participants and features over 130 exhibitors showcasing cutting-edge solutions and services in the MICE industry. In addition, the event features 200 Hosted Buyers, providing a unique opportunity for direct engagement with key decision-makers. The first day of the forum, 17 December began with the plenary session “Unity Through Open Diversity: New Opportunities for the MICE Industry”; the central theme of MGMC 2025. The session also highlighted Moscow’s progress in developing MICE infrastructure. The city welcomes business travellers every year: in 2024, one in five visitors from Russia’s regions and one in eight international visitors came for business purposes, while the overall number of business trips increased by 1.4 million. Guests can choose from 2,200 hotels, plan cultural itineraries in just a few clicks via the RUSSPASS digital service, and enjoy gastronomic experiences, supported by nearly 23,000 venues. Most importantly, Moscow offers modern, unconventional locations for events. Options for business events include Skolkovo Technopark, the Lomonosov Cluster, Zaryadye Park, the Ostankino TV Tower, the State Historical Museum, and the Khudozhestvenny Cinema. Speakers and participants in these and other panel discussions and case-study sessions included representatives of the tourism boards of Jordan and Nepal, the Ministry of Tourism and Environment of the Republic of Maldives, the Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as companies from Argentina, India, …

Over 60 speakers from Russia, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, India, China, Malaysia, South Africa and other partner markets will discuss global trends, destination marketing, and the role of innovation in shaping future growth. In a special interview with TravTalkME, Anastasia Popova, Head of the Business Tourism Development Department, Moscow City Tourism Committee shared that they are looking at one of the largest MICE events in Moscow over the next two days bringing over 2000 delegates across the globe with Middle East as a key partner. The programme includes 15 sessions in various formats: strategic panels, expert lectures, case presentations, and practical masterclasses.  The first day focuses on strategy: organising large-scale international exhibitions, personalisation and gamification in event design, and how major events can become catalysts for destination development. The second day is dedicated to applied solutions — working with VIP clients, engaging Asian markets, scaling corporate projects, and exploring the future of MICE 5.0, including AI and neurotechnology. MGMC 2025 also offers strong networking opportunities. More than 3,200 B2B meetings are planned, while the exhibition zone will feature over 100 exhibitors from Russia, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, presenting venues, service providers, and destination capabilities. https://business.russpass.ru/en/projects-events/meet-global-mice-congress/mgmc-2025 Business tourism is a core pillar of Moscow’s Tourism Strategy 2030. The city is investing in the renewal of cultural and historical sites, expanding its portfolio of high-quality visitor attractions and launching large-scale, seasonally driven event programmes. These initiatives are designed to reinforce Moscow’s position as a leading global hub for international meetings and professional dialogue. As the city upgrades its MICE infrastructure, deepens international partnerships and introduces more innovative event formats, demand for major congresses in the Russian capital continues to …

flynas has announced the launch of a new route connecting Jeddah and Moscow, starting 23 December 2025, in collaboration with the Saudi Tourism Authority and the Air Connectivity Program. The move aligns with flynas’ growth and expansion plan and supports the Kingdom’s strategic objectives in tourism and aviation. The airline will operate three weekly flights between King Abdulaziz International Airport (Jeddah) and Vnukovo International Airport (Moscow), expanding reliable travel links between Saudi Arabia and Russia. This follows flynas’ successful launch of scheduled flights between Moscow and Riyadh in August, marking a continued commitment to enhancing international connectivity. The new route forms part of flynas’ “We Connect the World to the Kingdom” initiative, supporting the National Civil Aviation Strategy, which aims to connect Saudi Arabia with 250 international destinations, accommodate 330 million passengers, and host 150 million tourists annually by 2030. The expansion also complements the Pilgrims Experience Program (PEP), facilitating smoother access to the Two Holy Mosques and enriching the travel experience for visitors. With this addition, flynas strengthens its position as a key driver of Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector, providing convenient, reliable, and strategically aligned international travel options for passengers and tourists alike.