Russian President Vladimir Putin invited African airlines to begin flying to Russia during the Russia–Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum in Moscow on 28 October. He linked the appeal to wider cooperation on transport and logistics, and said stronger air connections could support tourism. No carriers, routes or launch dates were identified, and the invitation was not accompanied by agreements or commitments from airlines to start services.
Putin’s remarks formed part of a broader discussion of transport links between Russia and African countries. The proposals also covered railways, roads, shipping routes and transport hubs, but no specific aviation projects were detailed beyond the invitation to airlines.
Any new routes would depend on individual carriers’ decisions; the forum produced no announced service plans. The remarks nevertheless put direct air connectivity on the agenda of Russia–Africa cooperation, alongside the wider transport and logistics proposals.