Turkish airline Pegasus begins cancelling flights to Moscow amid warnings over the safety of Russian airspace

Turkish airline Pegasus has begun cancelling individual flights to Russia amid worsening flight safety conditions. On the night of September 2, at least one Pegasus flight from Bodrum to Moscow was cancelled, with passengers told during boarding that the decision was related to the «airspace situation». In one published report, passengers also quoted airline representatives as saying that the «Turkish side is prohibiting departures»; however, as of publication, no official statement from Turkish aviation authorities confirming a general ban on flights to Russia had been issued.

At the same time, major schedule changes are being recorded at Moscow airports. According to data published on the morning of September 2, around 77 flights were delayed or cancelled over a 24-hour period at Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo and Vnukovo: 40 at Sheremetyevo, 20 at Domodedovo and 17 at Vnukovo. One of the longest delays involved a flight from Antalya to Domodedovo, whose departure was postponed by more than nine hours. These figures reflect the schedule situation at a specific moment and may change as airport operations are restored.

The situation is unfolding after a statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made on the evening of September 1. He warned airlines using Russian airspace, as well as insurers and other aviation market participants, about rising risks to flights over Russia. Zelenskyy said Ukraine intended to conduct a campaign aimed at limiting the use of Russian airspace, linking it to the use of drones.

At the same time, there is still no confirmed data indicating that all Turkish airlines have suspended or cancelled flights to Russia. At present, the cancellation of individual Pegasus flights has been reliably confirmed, while reports of a possible broader restriction on flights require further confirmation from airlines and aviation authorities.