Mass Flight Delays in Russia: Over 60,000 Passengers Stranded

On May 6–7, 2025, Russia experienced a major aviation disruption caused by airspace closures due to drone attack threats. According to the Russian Tour Operators Association (ATOR), the restrictions affected at least 350 flights, impacting more than 60,000 passengers. Nearly one-third of flights from Moscow airports were delayed or canceled.

The restrictions were imposed on the evening of May 6 and partially remained in effect the following day, affecting key hubs including Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo, Zhukovsky (Moscow), and airports in Sochi, Kazan, and other regions. Despite efforts to stabilize schedules, disruptions continued through the evening of May 7, with similar conditions expected on May 8.

ATOR reported that by 4:30 p.m. on May 7, the average departure delay at Russia’s five largest airports was about two hours, with arrivals delayed by 40 minutes. Moscow saw the worst conditions: Vnukovo delayed at least 35 flights, including Pegasus Airlines, Azur Air, and Turkish Airlines flights to Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman, and Istanbul. About a third of Domodedovo flights were delayed, including Emirates to Dubai and Red Wings to Tel Aviv and Phuket. Sheremetyevo saw delays for 17% of flights; Sochi for 40%; and St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo for 20%.

URA.RU reported passenger complaints, including a flight from Moscow’s Sheremetyevo (SU1054) delayed from 2:20 a.m. to 5:00 a.m., then 10:15 a.m., before being canceled entirely. Passengers at Pulkovo were stuck on board for over 10 hours awaiting landing clearance, with the captain citing a queue of 20–30 planes ahead. Travelers on SU2137 from Istanbul to St. Petersburg spent about 17 hours on board without food or water, sparking outrage on social media.

Some flights were rerouted. A plane from Bangkok diverted to New Delhi due to technical issues, leaving passengers onboard for five hours without food or water, followed by an hour waiting in a bus under the sun—causing difficulties, especially for those without Indian visas. In Perm, 10 flights to Moscow and Sochi were canceled, forcing some travelers to cancel vacations. In many cases, tour operators could only refund part of the trip’s cost without alternative arrangements.

Legal experts explain that these delays qualify as force majeure, meaning airlines and tour operators aren’t liable for disrupted travel but must provide basic passenger support. Under Russian aviation law, passengers are entitled to:

Water after 2 hours

Hot meals after 4 hours

Hotel accommodation after 6 hours at night or 8 hours during the day

These rights apply whether tickets were booked directly or as part of a package tour. Additionally, insurer EUROINS says holders of extended policies (like Optima) may receive $50 compensation for delays over 3 hours, even under force majeure.

Aeroflot, which also had to cancel or delay flights, announced rebooking and refund policies, including for “Rossiya” airline flights under SU code. Direct Aeroflot purchases are refunded automatically within a day; agency purchases require contacting the agent. Customers can rebook the same route/class/date within 72 hours for flights departing within 7 days of cancellation.

Certain passengers—transit travelers, subsidized fare holders, WWII veterans traveling under the annual program—can rebook without paying again by contacting sales offices, call centers, travel agents, or airline reps at the airport.

Refunding full tour costs is more complicated. By Russian law, tour operators aren’t responsible for flight disruptions since they act as intermediaries. They may deduct incurred expenses (hotel, airline penalties). ATOR’s legal head Nadya Efremova notes full refunds are only mandatory if Russia’s Foreign Ministry or Economic Ministry deems the destination unsafe.

Still, many operators seek goodwill solutions: asking hotels to extend stays or lower prices; recalculating tour prices if charter flights are delayed over 24 hours; or offering discounts or added services as compensation. If tourists cancel, operators handle cases individually. For example, “Russky Express” negotiates case-by-case with suppliers to minimize losses. However, extended accommodation costs for delayed return flights are typically not covered and fall to travelers.