On May 26, 2025, Turkish Airlines suspended several flights between Turkey and Russia due to continued drone attacks near Moscow, leading to airspace restrictions and operational disruptions at major airports.
The airline canceled at least 13 flights between Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport and Turkish cities such as Istanbul, Antalya, and Bodrum. Additionally, five flights between St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport and Istanbul and Antalya were also canceled. These cancellations were attributed to temporary restrictions on aircraft arrivals and departures at Moscow’s airports, including Domodedovo, Vnukovo, and Zhukovsky, imposed overnight due to safety concerns from ongoing drone attacks.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that air defense systems intercepted at least four drones approaching the capital overnight. Over the past week, Moscow airports have implemented 51 flight restrictions, totaling approximately 65.5 hours of limited operations.
Turkish Airlines has provided hotel accommodations and reissued tickets for affected passengers. However, some travelers have experienced confusion due to flight status updates. According to Anna Podgornaya, CEO of Pegas Touristik, technical reasons have led to instances where flights are marked as canceled instead of delayed. She advised passengers to await updated information as flight schedules are adjusted in response to the evolving situation.
Tour operators are closely monitoring the situation and recommend that travelers stay informed about potential changes to departure times. Passengers at St. Petersburg airport have also been cautioned about possible alterations to the Moscow flight schedule.
