Pobeda adjusts flight schedule as restrictions close Russian airports
In short
Airline Pobeda is adjusting its flight schedule because of temporary restrictions on airspace use in Russian regions, the company's press service said. Some flights have been delayed or cancelled and some sent to alternate airfields, to continue once restrictions are lifted. Kommersant reported that a drone attack overnight halted operations at Moscow's Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky airports for about seven hours.
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Airline Pobeda is adjusting its flight schedule because of restrictions at Russian airports, TASS, RBC, Interfax and Kommersant reported. Some flights have been delayed or cancelled, and some have been sent to alternate airfields, the company's press service said, according to Interfax and Kommersant. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
"Due to prolonged temporary restrictions on the use of airspace in Russian regions, Pobeda is forced to adjust its flight schedule. Some flights have been delayed or cancelled. Some flights have been sent to alternate airfields. They will be flown after the restrictions are lifted," the carrier said in a statement cited by Interfax. [ 5 ]
Kommersant reported that overnight, because of a drone attack, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky airports in Moscow suspended operations, with the restrictions in place for about seven hours. Airports in several other cities, including Kazan, Sochi, Samara and Ulyanovsk, also did not accept flights, the newspaper reported. Interfax reported that the press service of Rosaviatsia (Росавиация) had earlier announced the suspension of airports in a number of Russian regions, including those of the Moscow hub. The other outlets did not give a cause for the restrictions beyond limits on airspace use. [ 5 , 6 ]
On October 8, TASS reported that airlines were adjusting their schedules because of restrictions at Moscow airports, that additional staff had been deployed to support passengers and that airport services were working in an enhanced mode. TASS and RBC had also reported on October 8 that Pobeda was adjusting its schedule, with RBC citing the airline's warning of cancellations amid airspace restrictions in a number of Russian regions. None of the documents gives the number of affected flights. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The restrictions affected airports of the Moscow hub and, according to Kommersant, airports in Kazan, Sochi, Samara and Ulyanovsk, disrupting flights for passengers. TASS reported that additional staff were deployed to support passengers at Moscow airports.
Key facts
- Pobeda is adjusting its flight schedule because of restrictions at Russian airports. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Some Pobeda flights have been delayed or cancelled. [ 1 , 5 , 6 ]
- Some Pobeda flights have been sent to alternate airfields and will be flown after the restrictions are lifted, the airline said. [ 5 ]
- Kommersant reported that Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky airports in Moscow suspended operations overnight because of a drone attack, with restrictions lasting about seven hours. [ 6 ]
- Airports in Kazan, Sochi, Samara and Ulyanovsk also did not accept flights, Kommersant reported. [ 6 ]
- Interfax reported that the press service of Rosaviatsia (Росавиация) had earlier announced the suspension of airports in several Russian regions, including those of the Moscow hub. [ 5 ]
- TASS reported that airlines were adjusting schedules because of restrictions at Moscow airports, that additional staff were deployed to support passengers and that airport services were working in an enhanced mode. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Pobeda is adjusting its flight schedule because of restrictions at airports and on airspace use in Russian regions. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Some Pobeda flights have been delayed or cancelled. [ 1 , 5 , 6 ]
- Some Pobeda flights were redirected to alternate airfields. [ 5 , 6 ]
- Restrictions affected airports in Moscow. [ 3 , 5 , 6 ]
Still unclear
- Whether a drone attack caused the restrictions. Only Kommersant links the airport restrictions to a drone attack; the other documents cite only restrictions on airspace use.
- How many flights were delayed, cancelled or diverted. None of the documents gives a number of affected flights.
- Whether the reports of October 8 and October 9 refer to the same period of restrictions. Pobeda schedule changes were reported on both days, and the documents do not say whether the restrictions were continuous.
- The current status of the affected airports. The Kommersant text on the airports' status after the restrictions is incomplete.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- October 8: TASS reports that Pobeda is adjusting its schedule because of airport restrictions, with some flights delayed or cancelled. [ 1 ]
- October 8: RBC reports Pobeda warned of flight cancellations amid airspace restrictions in a number of Russian regions. [ 2 ]
- October 8: TASS reports airlines are adjusting schedules because of restrictions at Moscow airports, with additional staff deployed for passengers. [ 3 ]
- October 9: Interfax reports Pobeda's statement that some flights were delayed, cancelled or sent to alternate airfields. [ 5 ]
- October 9: Kommersant reports that Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky suspended operations overnight because of a drone attack. [ 6 ]