Direct Flights from Russia to Asia in 2026: What Changed in Thailand, Vietnam, Bali, China, Japan and Cambodia

Direct flights from Russia to Asia in 2026: Thailand, Vietnam, Bali, China, Japan and Cambodia — who flies, from where, new routes from the Far East and talks on resuming flights to Tokyo.

Not so long ago the map of direct flights from Russia to Asia looked simple: Thailand and Vietnam — yes, China — yes, Japan and Cambodia — only via third countries. By the end of 2026 the picture began to change in several directions at once: the Far East got its own routes to Bali and Thailand, Vladivostok is negotiating a direct flight to Bali, and Moscow and Tokyo returned to talks on restoring air service for the first time in several years. For a traveler this means not abstract diplomacy but a concrete question — what to fly on and with what connection in 2027. We go through the current situation for each of the six countries: who flies, from where, and what is already confirmed and what is only being discussed.

Why the route map is changing right now

After 2022 a significant part of the familiar routes from Russia to Asia disappeared or became more complicated: closed airspace over a number of countries, sanctions restrictions and the breaking of agreements with some carriers forced passengers to fly with one or even two connections where there used to be a direct flight of a few hours. By 2026 the situation began to straighten out unevenly: some destinations (Thailand, Vietnam, China) have not only recovered but are expanding through regional airports of the Far East and Siberia, while others (Japan) have only entered the negotiation phase, and still others (Cambodia) remain without direct service altogether. Knowing the current picture saves both money and time: the difference between a direct flight and a route with two connections can be half a day and a tangible sum in the ticket.

Thailand: the best-developed destination with new departure points

Thailand remains one of the most accessible destinations in the region: direct flights are operated by Aeroflot, Azur Air and S7 Airlines, and besides the familiar departures from Moscow, in 2026 flights from regional airports were added — Blagoveshchensk and Barnaul to Phuket, and from Vladivostok you can now fly directly to Bangkok. This is especially important for passengers from the Far East and Siberia, for whom the only option used to be a flight via Moscow in the opposite direction from Asia. Details of the current schedule and prices should be checked on the airlines’ websites before buying, since the frequency of flights on seasonal routes changes.

Vietnam: more flights and new regional routes

Vietnam is the second best-developed destination after Thailand. Aeroflot has operated direct Moscow — Ho Chi Minh City flights since January 31, 2024, and the small regional airline IrAero has flown from Irkutsk to Nha Trang on Tuesdays since June 2023 and offers flights to Phu Quoc island on Fridays — a rare example of direct service from a Siberian city, bypassing Moscow. At the intergovernmental level, Russia and Vietnam agreed to substantially increase the number of flights between the countries — the specific new routes and frequencies were not yet officially detailed at the time of preparing this piece, so follow the airlines’ announcements closer to the dates of your trip. About the visa and entry to Vietnam, read our piece Vietnam’s electronic visa.

Bali: a single carrier and a new hope from the Far East

The situation with Bali is the narrowest in the number of options among all six destinations. Under the current intergovernmental agreement, the only designated carrier on the Russian side remains Aeroflot, operating the Moscow (Sheremetyevo) — Denpasar flight; other airlines, including Azur Air, would like to enter the Indonesian route but have not yet received the necessary approval. The main news of 2026 came from the Eastern Economic Forum in September: Indonesia’s president Prabowo Subianto announced plans to launch direct air service between Vladivostok and Indonesia, and the first candidate for such a route is named as Bali. There is as yet no official start date, specific carrier or schedule at the time of preparing this piece — this is an announcement at the level of intergovernmental agreements, not a ready schedule, so treat it as a prospect, not as an option that can be booked today.

China: the busiest and most predictable destination

China remains the destination with the largest number of operating direct flights and airlines: the Moscow — Beijing route is served by China Southern, Air China, S7 Airlines, China Eastern and Aeroflot, and the flight takes on average about seven hours ten minutes. Besides Beijing, direct flights link Moscow and other regions of Russia with Shanghai, Guangzhou and a number of other large Chinese cities — this is a destination where the choice of carrier and date is usually not a problem, unlike Bali or Japan. About tickets and the schedule of high-speed trains inside the country for continuing your route, read the piece China’s high-speed trains.

Japan: air service is still severed, but talks have begun

Japan is the only one of the six countries with which there is no direct air service with Russia at all: flights were interrupted in 2022 after Tokyo joined the sanctions policy of the G7 countries. But in September 2026 the situation moved off dead center for the first time: Russian and Japanese carriers began technical consultations on resuming direct air service, and Russia’s deputy foreign minister expressed hope for the restoration of flights, noting the potential economic benefit for both sides. The diplomatic context remains complicated: resumption is complicated by Japan’s overall foreign policy course, military aid to Kyiv and the reaction to Vladimir Putin’s visit to the southern Kurils, so there are no specific dates for launching flights yet. At the same time, the tourist flow from Russia to Japan, despite the absence of direct flights, has reached a historic maximum — almost 195 thousand Russians visited the country in a year, almost double the figure a year earlier. After direct flights were canceled, convenient routes with a connection formed — via China, Turkey, the UAE and Qatar, and those are the ones to use until direct service is restored.

Cambodia: a destination without direct flights

Cambodia remains the only one of the six countries where direct flights from Russia are absent and are not publicly discussed at the intergovernmental level. You have to get there with a connection: routes via Vietnam (Vietnam Airlines), China (China Eastern) or the Persian Gulf countries (Etihad, Emirates, Qatar Airways) serve the destinations of Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville. For most travelers this means that a trip to Cambodia fits most logically into a broader route around the region — for example via Vietnam or Thailand, from where you can reach Cambodia by local regional flights or overland. About the overland crossing from Siem Reap to Bangkok, read the piece the Siem Reap — Bangkok border.

Regional airports of the Far East and Siberia: why it matters

For a long time the map of direct flights to Asia was built around Moscow, and for passengers from Siberia and the Far East it was often more logical to fly in the opposite direction — to Moscow — in order to get to Asia from there. New routes from Vladivostok, Irkutsk, Blagoveshchensk and Barnaul turn this logic over: the distance from Vladivostok to Bangkok or potentially to Denpasar is geographically noticeably shorter than from Moscow, and airlines are gradually beginning to use this advantage. For residents of the region this means not only a shorter flight but also potentially a lower ticket price — provided that the route is operated on a regular basis rather than as a one-off trial flight.

Charters versus scheduled flights: what the difference is for a passenger

Some destinations in Asia have historically been served not only by scheduled flights but also by charter programs launched by tour operators for a specific season. The difference for a passenger is significant: a charter is usually tied to a package tour or sold through a limited circle of agencies, the schedule is less flexible, and when a flight is canceled, compensation and rebooking follow different rules than with a scheduled airline. Before buying a ticket, ask the seller whether it is a scheduled flight or a charter program, especially if you are planning an independent trip without a package tour: some charter tickets are sold only together with accommodation.

How to follow the changes and not overpay

The situation with direct flights to Asia changes faster than guidebooks manage to be updated, so a sensible strategy is to check the current schedule of the specific airline directly before buying a ticket, and not to rely on information even half a year old. Subscribing to the Telegram channels of airlines and aggregators like Aviasales often notifies you of new routes sooner than they appear in the news. For destinations without a direct flight — Japan and Cambodia — compare not only the price but also the total travel time taking into account the connection and the visa requirements of the transit country: sometimes a route via Istanbul comes out cheaper but longer than via Beijing or Dubai.

Practical tips for 2027

If you are planning a trip to Bali, follow the airlines’ official announcements for the Vladivostok — Denpasar route during 2026–2027, but do not postpone booking the Moscow flight in anticipation of the Far Eastern option — there is no specific launch date yet. For Vietnam and Thailand it is worth comparing not only Moscow flights but also regional ones — from Irkutsk, Vladivostok, Blagoveshchensk and Barnaul, especially if you live in Siberia or the Far East: the difference in price and travel time compared with flying via Moscow in the opposite direction can be significant. For Japan, follow the news in autumn and winter 2026–2027: the topic is on the political agenda, and a decision may appear sooner than expected, given the mutual economic interest of the parties.

FAQ

Are there direct flights from Russia to Japan? No, there has been no direct air service since 2022; talks on resuming it began in September 2026, but there is no decision yet.

Is a direct flight from Vladivostok to Bali planned? Yes, it was announced at the Eastern Economic Forum in September 2026, but the specific launch date and carrier have not yet been determined.

Which airline flies to Indonesia from Russia? The only designated carrier is Aeroflot, the Moscow — Denpasar flight.

Are there direct flights to Cambodia? No, you have to get there with a connection via Vietnam, China or the Persian Gulf countries.

From where, besides Moscow, can you fly directly to Thailand? From Blagoveshchensk and Barnaul to Phuket, from Vladivostok to Bangkok.

How long is the flight from Moscow to Beijing? About seven hours ten minutes on a direct flight.

Sources

• Ministry of Transport: Russia and Vietnam agreed to increase the number of flights — Tourdom
• Direct flights from Russia abroad in 2026 — Gogov
• Direct air service with Japan and South Korea: Foreign Ministry data — Izvestia
• Russians set a record for trips to Japan — SakhalinMedia
• A direct flight will link Vladivostok and Bali — VladNews
• Moscow — Beijing flights — Ural Airlines

Schedules, carriers and launch dates of new routes change regularly — before buying tickets, check the current information on the airlines’ websites.