So Long, Flights! - Airport Hassles Galore in Russia
Flights Cancellation Announced by "Victory" Airline
Looks like it's a rocky week for travelers! The airline "Victory" is pulling the plug on some flights starting May 7, as stated by their press team.
The main cause behind this chaos? A whole bunch of hoops at Russian airports, with a whopping 16 planes feeling the heat of the situation. Planes heading to airports in Moscow, Kemerovo, Krasnoyarsk, Istanbul, Yekaterinburg, Samarkand, and Almaty are in the troublesome spotlight.
To lighten the load, Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg steps in as an alternate for a seamless transition.
We've previously reported a stormy situation brewing at Sochi Airport, where an unruly 30 flights were put on hold for both arrivals and departures.
The Nitty-Gritty:- The jarring disruptions at these airports can be traced back to a string of Ukrainian drone strikes on key air and military infrastructure in Russia. These attacks have grounded Moscow airspace for at least three days running, leading to the closure of some airports and a flurry of canceled or delayed flights across various airlines, including Aeroflot, Pobeda, and S7CT1CT3.- As a direct response, airspace closures and beefed-up air defense operations are causing quite the ruckus. According to the Association of Russia's Tour Operators, a staggering 350 flights have felt the wrath so far, leaving over 60,000 travelers in the lurch due to delays and cancelationsCT1CT4.- The ongoing fuss comes at a particularly inconvenient time—with foreign officials due in Moscow and preparations underway for the Victory Day parade. Air defense systems in the capital have been working double-time, intercepting numerous drones. The constant threat has necessitated strict restrictions and closures, especially around MoscowCT1.- The fallout doesn't end with Moscow—international connections like Istanbul, Samarkand, and Almaty are also facing delays and cancellations, as flights to and from Russia have become trickyCT2.
Essential Tidbits:- Moscow: Several airports closed and airspace under lockdown, especially during foreign official visitsCT1.- Kemerovo, Krasnoyarsk, Yekaterinburg: Local travelers bear the brunt of cancellations due to aircraft and crew reshuffles from Moscow and airspace restrictionsCT2.- Istanbul, Samarkand, Almaty: Chaos and delays on international routes due to canceled flights to/from RussiaCT2.- Duration: Three consecutive days (and counting) of attacks as of May 7, 2025; no sign of a resolution in sightCT1.
Sources:
- In line with airline "Victory's" announcement, some flights have been canceled, starting from May 7.
- The chaos at Russian airports, including those in Sochi, has impacted a total of 16 planes.
- Vkontakte updates show that many flights to airports such as Moscow, Kemerovo, Krasnoyarsk, Istanbul, Yekaterinburg, Samarkand, and Almaty have been delayed or canceled.
- The general-news section reported an ongoing political crisis causing airspace restrictions and defense operations, leading to over 350 canceled or delayed flights, affecting approximately 60,000 travelers.
- Despite the troubles at domestic airports, international travelers facing delays or cancellations on routes to destinations such as Istanbul, Samarkand, and Almaty are also experiencing lifestyle disruptions.
