By Ekaterina Janashia | 2026-06-29

Tatyana knows where she wants to take her 9-year-old son this summer -- the seaside, for his health. She just can't bring herself to buy the tickets.

The 42-year-old from Saint Petersburg has two hard-earned weeks of vacation to spend. Yet she remains undecided about where to go, or whether to travel at all.

"The persistent flight delays in Russia are alarming. What if we end up stranded in a foreign airport for days? It happened to my friends, and with a young child, I simply cannot afford to take that risk," Tatyana told Kontur.

Her dilemma reflects a measurable breakdown in Russian aviation. Lengthy flight delays roughly doubled in the first five months of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier, and total cancellations quadrupled, according to data published by the Russian business daily Kommersant.

Safety weighs on Tatyana as heavily as logistics. The recent aerial attacks during the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum left her uneasy about her son's security.

She first set her sights on Europe, then changed course when the paperwork collapsed.

"Initially, I wanted to travel to Europe, but securing a Schengen visa was impossible," she said. She turned instead to Turkey and Georgia.

"While the airfares are exorbitant, it is vital for my son's health that I get him to the seaside," she said. Even so, she still hasn't booked anything.

Delays and cancellations soar

The numbers behind her anxiety are stark. Data from the major insurer AlfaStrakhovanie shows delays of 60 minutes or more surged 1.9 times, hitting 48,600 flights between January and late May.

More severe disruptions grew even faster. Delays beyond two hours climbed 2.1 times to 26,500 flights. Three-hour delays jumped 2.3 times to 17,300 flights. Waits of four hours or more soared 2.4 times, affecting 12,400 flights.

Airlines are scrapping flights at record rates as well. Carriers now abandon flights mid-delay three times as often as last year — part of the fourfold jump in overall cancellations.

Geopolitical tensions close to home pose the most persistent threat. Regular Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian infrastructure force regional authorities to shut down airspace and halt airport operations.

On May 8, 13 airports across southern Russia suspended all operations after a drone struck an administrative building belonging to the Aeronavigation of Southern Russia company. The government restored full service only on the morning of May 10.

Cities farther north feel the strain too. The aerial attacks during the Saint Petersburg forum triggered widespread logistical chaos.

Kremlin rejects airline bailouts

Sources at several of Russia's largest airports confirmed the rising cancellation figures to Kommersant, while defending how they handle the crisis.

Airlines have learned to plan more flexibly and rework schedules under pressure, airport representatives said. Rather than let passengers pile up in terminals during open-ended delays, carriers now cancel chain-delayed flights earlier and warn travelers in advance.

That shift offers little relief to commercial airlines, which are absorbing mounting losses. Two unnamed Russian carriers said they worry about the cost of keeping aircraft idle during forced closures. Grounded planes burn fuel, disrupt crew rotations and rack up parking fees. Both carriers called for direct government support.

The Kremlin is playing down the damage. Russia's Transport Ministry declined to release official figures from the federal air transport agency, Rosaviatsia, on the latest delays and cancellations.

Instead, the ministry said airspace restrictions have become easier to manage than in past years. It dismissed the bailout pleas, arguing that the harm from drone-related restrictions amounts to "less than 1% of carriers' total expenses." The government said it is not weighing direct compensation for now.

The obstacles still aren't enough to ground every traveler. Denis, a 23-year-old from Moscow, refuses to stay home.

"I know what the situation is, but there's no way I'm staying here all summer," he told Kontur. He is determined to go anyway.

"A lot of my friends are over in Georgia waiting for me. I visit them every single summer, and I'm really hoping I can make it work this time. I can't wait to enjoy the Black Sea coast, the khinkali, the khachapuri, and some great Georgian wine," he said.