Krasnov asked Riyadh for guarantees of “non-detention” of Russian planes

In order to open direct flights to Saudi Arabia, Russia needs guarantees that Russian planes will not be detained in the kingdom at the request of third countries due to sanctions, said Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov at a meeting with his Saudi counterpart Saud bin Abdullah Al Muajeb in Rio de Janeiro.

Direct flights to Saudi Arabia were suspended due to the CORONAVIRUS pandemic. In 2022, the parties discussed resuming direct flights. Krasnov noted that "a lot of work" had been done since then. In particular, two airlines have been identified that are ready to operate flights: Russian Red Wings and Saudi low-cost airline Flynas.

Kommersant wrote in September that direct flights between the countries could resume in January 2025, with Aeroflot and Flynas operating flights to Riyadh and Jeddah. UTair and Red Wings also have permanent permission to fly there, the newspaper noted.

"The only obstacle to resuming flights is the lack of guarantees from the Saudi side that aircraft will not be detained at the request of third countries due to illegal sanctions. I would be grateful for your assistance in a positive resolution of this issue by the relevant authorities of the kingdom. I am confident that the opening of direct flights will lead to an increase in tourist flows and will benefit both countries and our citizens," Krasnov said ( quoted by RIA Novosti).

Red Wings is part of the state corporation Rostec, which is under sanctions from the UK , US and EU .

The Saudi Arabian Prosecutor General responded by assuring that the rights of civil transport and aircraft flying from Russia to the kingdom are “absolutely protected.” “This is part of the Saudi Arabian system of laws. I want to reassure you that this is how it is and will always be in Saudi Arabia. I am confident that these rights are protected and no one can infringe on them,” Saud bin Abdullah Al Muajeb Al Sharif responded (quoted by TASS ).

After the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine, the US and EU imposed sanctions that prohibit the supply of aircraft and spare parts to Russia. Foreign leasing companies then began to recall airliners from Russia. Rosaviatsia recommended that domestic carriers that own aircraft under foreign leasing stop flying abroad. A law was later passed that allows such airliners to be re-registered in Russia.

In 2023, as RBK wrote, Rosaviatsia recommended not to fly abroad on boards that belong to the State Transport Leasing Company (GTLK), which has fallen under US and EU sanctions, which could affect Airbus and Boeing aircraft used by Aeroflot, Rossiya, S7, ATK Yamal and Aurora.

One of the Volga-Dnepr Airlines planes, the An-124-100 Ruslan, was detained in CANADA in late February 2022 when it brought a covid test from CHINA due to the closure of the skies for Russian flights. After sanctions were imposed on the Russian carrier, the plane was seized, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to hand over the plane to Ukraine.

Russian Ambassador to Canada Oleg Stepanov said in February of this year that the Russian side regards the confiscation of the An-124 as "piracy, illegal seizure." Volga-Dnepr has filed a lawsuit against the Canadian authorities .