Russia denies plans for direct flights to South Africa

The Russian Ministry of Transport has denied plans for direct flights by Russian carriers between Russia and South Africa, according to the state-owned news agency TASS. "There are currently no plans to operate direct flights between Russia and Malaysia, Russia and South Africa, as well as Russia and Ethiopia by Russian carriers. Between Russia and Ethiopia, flights on the Addis Ababa - Moscow route are operated by Ethiopian Airlines three times a week," the ministry said. Ethiopian Airlines also serves Johannesburg and Cape Town from Addis Ababa. Earlier, the head of the Federal Air Transport Agency, Alexander Neradko, reported that Russia could open flights with Myanmar, Mongolia, South Korea, South Africa, Algeria, Saudi Arabia and a number of other countries this year. In January, ch-aviation reported that South Africa was talking to Russia's Nordwind Airlines about direct flights between Moscow Sheremetyevo and Johannesburg O.R. Tambo, even though the carrier is subject to US and European sanctions invoked due to Russia's war on Ukraine, meaning it cannot legally fly to South Africa under international aviation safety regulations. South Africa's relationship with Russia is under the international spotlight following US allegations that the African National Congress (ANC) government has provided weapons to Russia for its war on Ukraine.<br/>