Turkish Pegasus Airlines canceled a number of flights to Russia – what is the reason?

Turkish airline Pegasus Airlines has temporarily canceled night flights to Russia from September 1 to 2, citing “technical and operational reasons.”

According to the Pegasus website , this came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned to close the airspace over Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed that Russian skies were becoming “completely dangerous” due to drone activity, and called on foreign airlines to take this factor into account.

Despite the carrier’s assurances to resume scheduled flights starting September 2 and to organize additional flights for stranded passengers, a large-scale disruption occurred at Moscow’s Vnukovo airport. At least 12 flights were delayed or canceled for arrivals and departures. In particular, passengers on a flight from Dalaman, which was supposed to depart at night, did not receive comprehensive information from airline representatives after being re-delivered to the airport on the afternoon of September 2.

The Russian Association of Tour Operators explains the schedule changes by adjusting routes due to the closure of airspace over a number of Russian cities, and tour operators are trying to urgently transfer tourists to alternative flights. At the same time, the Russian association assures that there is currently no talk of a complete cancellation of flight programs or the withdrawal of Turkish carriers from the Russian market.

​​At the same time, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga announced an official appeal to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Ukraine informed ICAO about the critical danger of Russian airspace for civilian aircraft due to increased military activity and called on global air carriers to completely avoid flights over Russian territory.

It was also previously reported that Turkish Airlines, along with Russian airline Aeroflot, could be subject to sanctions by Brussels. The airlines are suspected of transporting illegal migrants from the Middle East via Belarus to the EU borders. However, these plans were not implemented.

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