On the night of 1 September, Turkish airlines cancelled some flights between Turkey and Moscow following a drone attack and temporary restrictions at Moscow’s airports. Pegasus Airlines recorded the highest number of cancellations, particularly on routes via Vnukovo. Rosaviatsia subsequently reopened Vnukovo and Domodedovo, after which some flights operated by other carriers took off.
Briefly about the main points
- Pegasus has cancelled flights between Istanbul, Moscow and Turkish holiday resorts.
- Restrictions were in place at Vnukovo and Domodedovo due to the threat posed by drones.
- Passengers in Bodrum were informed of problems with night-time flights.
- Following the resumption of operations at the airports, some flights have returned to their normal timetables.
- There have been no reports of Turkish airlines completely suspending flights to Moscow.
Which Pegasus flights were cancelled?
According to flight tracking systems, flight PC390 from Istanbul to Moscow, which was due to arrive at Vnukovo at around 05:05, and the return flight PC387, scheduled for 04:00, were listed as cancelled.
The display board at Vnukovo also listed three Pegasus flights from Moscow as cancelled: PC1457 to Bodrum, PC1577 to Antalya and PC1459 to Dalaman. In addition to these flights, the cancellations also affected other departures from Vnukovo.
Disruptions to the timetable have affected passengers in Turkey
Russian media and passengers reported that tourists at Turkish resorts had received notifications about cancellation of flights to Moscow due to the «airspace situation». In Bodrum, passengers Pegasus They were expecting a night-time flight to Vnukovo: flight PC1456 was scheduled to depart from Milas-Bodrum Airport at 00:05.
The closure of an airport affects more than just a single flight. If a plane does not arrive in Moscow, the carrier may be unable to operate its return leg or the next flight in the rotation. Such disruptions can lead to delays, flight diversions, additional fuel costs and disruption to crew schedules.
Vnukovo and Domodedovo have resumed normal operations
Rosaviation restricted the arrival and departure of aircraft at Moscow’s airports overnight, citing the need to ensure flight safety. At Vnukovo, flights were handled only by prior arrangement for a certain period; a similar arrangement was introduced at Domodedovo.
At around 06:13 Moscow time, the authority announced the lifting of restrictions at two airports. Following this, some flights operated by Turkish Airlines and other carriers took off, so the overnight cancellations do not mean a complete halt to air services between Turkey and Russia.
Warning regarding risks in Russian airspace
On the eve of the presidential election Volodymyr Zelenskyy said., stating that Ukraine does not target civilian aircraft, but that the number of Ukrainian drones over Russia will increase. He called on international airlines and insurers to take these risks into account.
Most European and American airlines have not flown through Russian airspace for some time. At the same time, airlines from Turkey, China and the Gulf states continue to fly to Russia and through its territory.
Flights to Moscow are still available
Recurring restrictions at the Moscow hub may force international carriers to review the viability of their flights more frequently, as even a brief closure disrupts the aircraft’s and crew’s schedule.
At the same time, Pegasus and Turkish Airlines continue to list routes to and from Moscow on their respective booking systems. This confirms that the routes have not been withdrawn from sale, but does not guarantee that every individual flight will operate as scheduled.
