Nizhny Novgorod airport takes in 14 Moscow-bound flights after restrictions
In short
Nizhny Novgorod's Chkalov airport received 14 flights bound for Moscow airports after temporary restrictions were imposed on arrivals and departures in the capital, the airport's press service said. Passengers were given food and drinks, and restrictions on flights to Moscow have since been lifted, with some aircraft already departing. Kommersant reported that Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 650 drones flew toward the capital overnight, more than 100 of them destroyed on approach.
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Nizhny Novgorod's Chkalov airport received 14 flights that had been heading for Moscow airports on Tuesday, after temporary restrictions were imposed on the arrival and departure of aircraft in Moscow, the airport's press service said. The airport acted as the main reserve airfield for the Moscow aviation hub, it said, with airline representatives and airport staff working with passengers and food and drinks being provided. [ 1 , 3 ]
Restrictions on flights to Moscow have now been lifted, the press service said: several flights have already departed and the remaining aircraft were preparing to leave for their destination airports. Kommersant reported that all services at the Nizhny Novgorod airport were working in an enhanced mode, and that passengers waiting there were promised additional water coolers and beanbag mattresses if needed. [ 1 , 3 ]
Kommersant also reported that Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 650 drones flew toward the capital overnight into Tuesday, of which more than 100 were destroyed on approach to the city, and that all Moscow airports suspended arrivals and departures during the night. Interfax and TASS did not give a cause for the restrictions, referring only to temporary limits on aircraft arrivals and departures in Moscow. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
According to Kommersant, Chkalov is used as the main reserve for the Moscow aviation hub and received and handled more than 300 aircraft that could not land at their destination airports in 2025. When the capital's airports temporarily halt operations, crews decide whether passengers wait on board or in the terminal, and airline representatives handle the passengers, the outlet said. In the previous such case, on 4 April 2025, aircraft received in Nizhny Novgorod flew on to their destinations after refuelling, while a longer wait can involve placing some passengers in hotels, as happened in November 2021, it said. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The diversion of 14 aircraft shows how the Moscow aviation hub leans on Nizhny Novgorod as its main reserve airfield when the capital's airports suspend operations, so a disruption in Moscow quickly becomes an operational burden for a regional airport. For passengers, the practical effect is delays, terminal or on-board waiting and possible hotel stays, as Kommersant noted happened in earlier cases.
Key facts
- Nizhny Novgorod's Chkalov airport received 14 flights that had been heading for Moscow airports, acting as the main reserve airfield for the Moscow aviation hub. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The airport said the flights were diverted because of temporary restrictions on the arrival and departure of aircraft in Moscow. [ 1 ]
- Airline representatives and airport staff worked with passengers on the diverted flights and provided food and drinks. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Restrictions on flights to Moscow have been lifted, with several flights already departed and the rest preparing to leave for their destinations. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Kommersant reported that all services at the Nizhny Novgorod airport were working in an enhanced mode, and that waiting passengers were promised extra water coolers and beanbag mattresses if needed. [ 3 ]
- Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 650 drones flew toward the capital overnight into Tuesday and more than 100 were destroyed on approach, while all Moscow airports suspended arrivals and departures during the night, Kommersant reported. [ 3 ]
- According to Kommersant, Chkalov handled more than 300 aircraft unable to land at their destination airports in 2025. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Nizhny Novgorod's Chkalov airport received 14 flights that had been heading for Moscow. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Passengers on the diverted flights were provided with food and drinks by airline representatives and airport staff. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Restrictions on flights to Moscow have been lifted and the diverted aircraft are departing or preparing to depart for their destinations. [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- What exactly prompted the temporary restrictions on arrivals and departures at Moscow airports. Only Kommersant links the restrictions to drones reported by Moscow's mayor; Interfax and TASS refer solely to “temporary restrictions” without giving a cause.
- Whether any of the drone activity or the airport restrictions caused casualties or damage. The documents do not mention casualties or damage.
- Whether all diverted passengers continued their journeys to Moscow by air or by other means. The documents say the aircraft were departing or preparing to depart but give no final passenger figures.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Interfax reports that Chkalov airport received 14 flights bound for Moscow airports during temporary restrictions, that passengers were given food and drinks, and that the restrictions have been lifted. [ 1 ]
- TASS reports the same figure of 14 received flights and says airline representatives and airport staff are working with passengers. [ 2 ]
- Kommersant reports the 14 diverted aircraft, the enhanced mode at the airport and Mayor Sergei Sobyanin's statement that 650 drones flew toward Moscow overnight, more than 100 destroyed on approach. [ 3 ]