Russia's Transport Ministry and Aviation Authority are persistently supervising domestic air travel, given the current temporary limitations on airspace utilization across various regions of the nation.
As of July 6-7, 2025, several significant flight disruptions have been reported at major Russian airports, primarily due to ongoing airspace safety concerns.
**Current Airport Status**
- **Sheremetyevo Airport (Moscow)**: The largest hub for Russia and Aeroflot's main base, Sheremetyevo has faced a major collapse in operations. On July 6 alone, 171 flights were canceled, with an additional 56 delayed beyond two hours. Approximately 15,000 passengers were affected, waiting in crowded terminals as efforts are made to stabilize the situation.
- **Pulkovo Airport (Saint Petersburg)**: This airport has also experienced severe disruptions, with around 90 flights canceled and 37 delayed over two hours. Access to the clean zone has been restricted to reduce passenger congestion during the shutdown.
- **Nizhny Novgorod Chkalov Airport**: It has experienced prolonged disruption with 26 flights canceled and 13 delayed. Staff have increased shifts to accelerate boarding and baggage handling.
- **Other airports with temporary flight suspensions** include Ivanovo Yuzhny (South), Kaluga (Grabtsevo), Tambov (Donskoye), and Pskov (restrictions recently lifted).
**Causes and Official Responses**
The Russian Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) attributes these restrictions to safety concerns stemming from possible external interference, potentially linked to drone activities targeting Russian airspace. The Ministry of Transport has stated that airports where restrictions have been lifted are gradually returning to planned operations; however, some airports still face temporary limitations as of July 6.
**Alternative Transportation and Travel Options**
- Given that Sheremetyevo and other major airports are severely impacted, travelers are often advised to consider alternative Moscow airports, such as Domodedovo and Vnukovo, which continue operating and serve various domestic and international flights, including carriers like S7 Airlines and low-cost airlines.
- For international connections, many flights to Russia now route via Middle Eastern hubs such as Dubai (Emirates), Abu Dhabi (Etihad), Doha (Qatar Airways), and Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), which serve several Moscow airports and Saint Petersburg.
- Ground transportation between cities might be a fallback option where air travel is disrupted, though related details are not specified in the sources. Given Russia's extensive rail network, trains could provide alternatives from affected cities like Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Nizhny Novgorod.
**Summary**
- **Flights at Sheremetyevo, Pulkovo, and Nizhny Novgorod airports are severely disrupted with dozens to over a hundred cancellations as of July 6-7, 2025.**
- **Several regional airports remain temporarily closed or restricted.**
- **Russian authorities cite airspace threats, mainly drone-related incidents, as the reason for these disruptions.**
- **Alternative Moscow airports (Domodedovo, Vnukovo) and rerouting via Middle Eastern hubs are options for travelers.**
- **Ground transport via rail or road could be considered, though not detailed in the current information.**
These developments highlight continuing instability in Russian air traffic due to security concerns impacting passenger flow and airport operations for the immediate term.
- The ongoing disruptions in the aviation industry have led to financial losses for transportation companies, particularly airlines serving major Russian airports like Sheremetyevo, Pulkovo, and Nizhny Novgorod.
- The impacts on the finance sector are interconnected, with unpredictable patterns in the transportation sector negatively affecting the overall economy, as well as foreign investments in the Russian industry.
