MOSCOW, October 23. /TASS/. Temporary restrictions on aircraft arrivals and departures have been imposed at Moscow’s Vnukovo, Domodedovo, Zhukovsky, and Sheremetyevo airports, Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) reported.
Passengers were evacuated from the Sheremetyevo International Airport following an air raid alert issued due to the threat of a drone attack, the press service reported.
TASS has compiled the key information on the situation at the airports.
Restrictions imposed
- Temporary restrictions on aircraft arrivals and departures were imposed at Vnukovo, Domodedovo, Zhukovsky, and Sheremetyevo airports, the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) said.
- According to its statement, the restrictions were necessary to ensure flight safety.
- Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport is warning passengers about possible changes to flight schedules and longer wait times due to the restrictions, the press service noted.
- An air raid alert has been declared at the Sheremetyevo Airport, the press service reported.
- Passengers were evacuated, and access to the secure areas of all terminals was restricted.
- Passengers were informed via public address announcements.
- Sheremetyevo Airport staff assisted passengers in moving to safe areas and provided updates on the current situation, the press service noted.
Situation at airports
- The situation in the terminals is calm.
- Passengers have access to drinking fountains, water purifiers, water coolers, and free mother-and-child rooms in the terminals of Moscow’s airports.
- Airport information desks and call centers are operating.
- More than 20 flights bound for Moscow airports were diverted to other cities due to current restrictions, Moscow airports told TASS.
Airline actions
- Airlines are adjusting their schedules due to restrictions at airports in the Moscow Region, Rosaviatsiya noted.
- Aeroflot and Rossiya airlines confirmed that they are adjusting their schedules due to airport restrictions.
- Rossiya noted that the schedule changes are related to restrictions at Moscow and other Russian airports.
- According to Aeroflot, some flights have been diverted to alternate airports and will resume once the restrictions are lifted.
- Pobeda is adjusting its schedule due to ongoing restrictions in Russian regions and at Moscow hub airports, the carrier’s press office said.
- It operates at full capacity, providing information and assistance to customers in accordance with all regulations and standards.
- Passengers are asked to check their flight status before heading to the airport via the chatbot, on the departure airport’s website, and via the email address provided at the time of booking.
- The forced change and refund service allows passengers to change or refund their tickets on their own with just two clicks, even for non-refundable fares, the airline noted.
Monitoring
- Civil aviation operations in the Moscow region are under special monitoring by the Transport Ministry and Rosaviatsiya.