Russia-china Air Routes Multiply As Visa-free Stays Drive Passenger Growth

Published on September 9, 2025

China has introduced a important argumentation displacement that is expected to toggle shape recreation dynamics betwixt Russia and China. The determination to assistance visa-free introduction to Russian citizens for stays of up to 30 days is group to accelerate nan maturation of 1 of Russia’s astir resilient world recreation corridors.

Visa-Free Access Opens New Opportunities

Beginning September 15, Russian citizens pinch modular passports will beryllium allowed to participate China without a visa for stays of up to 30 days. The argumentation covers recreation for tourism, business, and family visits and will beryllium implemented connected a proceedings ground for 1 year. This inaugural reflects China’s committedness to enhancing cross-border connectivity and reinforcing bilateral practice nether its strategical business framework.

Aviation Market Gains Momentum

Despite world disruptions caused by nan pandemic and geopolitical tensions, aerial connectivity betwixt Russia and China has maintained dependable momentum. Western sanctions and nan withdrawal of galore world carriers successful early 2022 near Russia pinch constricted long-haul options, but China remained a captious partner.

Latest figures item nan rising value of this route. For September 2025, nan scheduled spot capacity connected flights betwixt Russia and mainland China climbed to 428,800 successful some directions, representing a 2.5% maturation complete nan aforesaid play a twelvemonth earlier. Although this fig remains somewhat beneath pre-2020 levels, nan marketplace has recovered importantly compared to different world routes still struggling to regain strength.

Expanding Routes and Network Growth

China has go Russia’s third-largest world destination successful position of spot capacity, trailing only Turkey and Uzbekistan. There are presently 55 nonstop routes betwixt nan 2 nations, up from 51 past year. Among these, Moscow-Beijing remains nan astir progressive route, followed intimately by Moscow-Shanghai and Moscow-Guangzhou.

Chinese carriers are starring nan surge successful capacity description . Back successful 2019, their marketplace stock stood astatine 38%, pinch astir 175,000 monthly seats available. By September 2025, their stock has surged to 62%, translating to much than 266,000 seats. This description underscores nan strategical domiciled Chinese carriers are playing successful gathering rising demand.

Aeroflot continues to lead among Russian operators but has scaled backmost capacity by 19% compared to pre-pandemic levels. However, it has importantly diversified its network, increasing from 7 nonstop routes successful 2019 to 20 today. New connections now see flights from St. Petersburg and Kazan to Sanya, a cardinal edifice destination.

Chinese carriers are besides targeting secondary cities and nan Russian Far East. Air China precocious introduced services from Beijing to Irkutsk and Vladivostok, while China Southern has launched a Harbin-Vladivostok route. These developments are expanding connectivity beyond awesome hubs, creating much recreation opportunities for some leisure and business travelers.

Tourism connected nan Rise

Tourism betwixt nan 2 countries is showing beardown betterment and growth. In 2024, communal visits reached 2.7 million, and nan upward inclination has continued into 2025, pinch nan first 4th signaling a 20% year-on-year increase. Russian travelers accounted for 1.5 cardinal trips to China past year, pinch destinations for illustration Hainan attracting important interest. In turn, 1.2 cardinal Chinese visitors traveled to Russia, making China nan starring inbound tourism root for nan country.

Visa-Free Policy to Drive Further Demand

The caller visa-free statement is expected to amplify these figures. During nan first half of 2025, China processed 13.64 cardinal visa-free entries from each eligible countries, a 54% jump compared to nan erstwhile year. With Russians now included successful this policy, airlines are anticipating a surge successful bookings for some leisure and family visits.

This strategical determination not only strengthens negotiated and economical ties but besides solidifies aerial recreation arsenic a halfway constituent of bilateral engagement. As routes grow and rider volumes climb, nan Russia-China aviation marketplace appears poised for its astir move maturation shape successful years.