Turkish Airlines has postponed a number of flights to Moscow due to the temporary closure of airspace over the city. The move has affected thousands of passengers and prompted concerns about travel disruptions.

While the airline has not outright canceled flights, it has reassigned them new numbers, according to Dmitry Gorin, Vice President of the Russian Union of Travel Industry (RST). During the airspace closure on May 6, 22, and 23, an estimated 30,000 to 60,000 passengers were stranded at airports daily.

Gorin clarified that the issue impacts all airlines, including domestic carriers. He emphasized that tour operators are obligated to fulfill their commitments to tourists within a reasonable timeframe, contingent upon aviation authorities reopening air traffic. Turkish Airlines is reportedly offering forced refunds on all tariff categories or rebooking options for subsequent flights.

Alexan Mkrtchyan, General Director of the “Pink Elephant” travel company, estimates that around 10,000 Russian tourists are currently in Turkey. He assured that tourists who booked through agencies are protected by travel insurance, covering accommodation, meals, and flights.

Despite the disruptions, the flow of Russian tourists to Turkey has increased, driven by early booking promotions, a stronger ruble, and an increased number of flights, according to Gorin. Turkey remains the most popular foreign destination for Russian tourists, with 6.8 million visitors last year, and projections indicating over 7 million this year, representing 50% of Russia’s total tourist flow.

Experts acknowledge that predicting the stabilization of air traffic is challenging, as it depends on the safety assessments of aviation authorities. Besides Turkey, the UAE, Venezuela, and China are popular foreign destinations for Russians. Other destinations include the Maldives and Sri Lanka.