Over the weekend, drone strikes from Ukraine led to significant flight disruptions at Moscow’s airports, with over 1,000 flights either delayed or canceled, as reported by Russian media.
The airports of Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky experienced major operational halts, as Russian air defense systems intercepted numerous drones targeting the capital from July 19 to July 21.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that 18 drones were downed on July 19, followed by 26 on July 20, and another 23 on July 21.
Due to airspace closures, flight operations were frequently paused, with Sheremetyevo alone canceling over 170 flights and postponing hundreds on Monday, according to the RBC news website. Significant interruptions were also noted at Vnukovo and Domodedovo.
This marks the fourth incident of this nature affecting Moscow’s air traffic since early May, coinciding with the peak tourist season.
Data from the industry indicates that total airport closures in the last three months have surpassed 24 hours at each of the major airports in the city, with Domodedovo experiencing more than 60 hours of inactivity.
Since early May, airlines have scrapped around 1,000 flights, while about 430 aircraft have been redirected to other airports. The Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) estimated that roughly 200,000 passengers, or approximately one in ten air travelers, have been impacted.
Despite the increasing financial strain, Russia’s state aviation authority, Rosaviatsiya, has stated it will not provide compensation to airlines for the delays or cancellations.
In light of the recent disruptions, Russia’s newly appointed Transportation Minister Andrei Nikitin remarked that the current situation at Moscow’s airports is “somewhat better” than it was in May.
“Neither the airports nor the airlines are able to predict when the ‘Carpet Plan’ for emergency airspace closure will be activated,” he noted. “Naturally, we will collaborate with the Defense Ministry to find a resolution, but ensuring safety remains our utmost concern.”
