Moscow is Russia's primary international air hub, served by four major commercial airports: Sheremetyevo (SVO), Domodedovo (DME), Vnukovo (VKO), and Zhukovsky (ZIA). This multi-airport system provides an immense network of domestic and international flights into Moscow, creating a highly competitive environment for airfares to the city, especially on domestic and popular leisure routes.
The airports offer unparalleled connectivity into Moscow. Key domestic routes into SVO, DME, VKO, and ZIA include frequent and affordable flights from Saint Petersburg, Sochi, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, and Novosibirsk to Moscow. For international arrivals into Moscow, there is extensive service from CIS countries, major cities across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, and long-haul destinations in the Americas to the city's airports. Popular budget-friendly international origins for flights to Moscow include Istanbul, Dubai, Antalya, Tel Aviv, and Bangkok.
Each airport into Moscow has its own profile. Sheremetyevo (SVO) is Aeroflot's main hub for arrivals. Domodedovo (DME) hosts many international and domestic carriers flying to Moscow. Vnukovo (VKO) is a base for Utair and low-cost carrier Pobeda Airlines for arrivals into the city. This division means competition exists both between airlines and between airports serving the same city pairs for flights to Moscow. Carriers flying into Moscow range from full-service giants like Aeroflot to low-cost airlines like Pobeda and S7 Airlines.
To secure cheap flights to Moscow, always compare fares into all four airports for your origin. Book domestic arrivals into Moscow at least 3-4 weeks in advance. For international travel to Moscow, booking 2-5 months ahead is advisable for the best deals into the city's airports. Use Russian metasearch engines and airline websites directly for flights to Moscow. Be flexible with arrival dates into Moscow; flying into the city on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays is typically cheapest. For arrivals from European destinations to Moscow, also check fares into nearby hubs like Minsk (MSQ) or Istanbul (IST) if you are able to position there before connecting to Moscow.