Unforeseen termination of flights for Sheremetyevo, Pulkovo, and Nizhny Novgorod airports, causing travel disruption for countless passengers, unable to board their flights.
On July 5-6, 2025, a significant disruption took place in the Russian aviation sector, with **287 flights cancelled at Sheremetyevo (Moscow), Pulkovo (St. Petersburg), and Nizhny Novgorod airports**. The cancellations were primarily due to airspace restrictions imposed amid drone attack threats and a harsh security environment.
At Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport, **171 flights were cancelled**, with another 56 delayed over two hours. This led to disruptions for approximately 15,000 passengers. The cancellations occurred at unspecified times throughout the period.
St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport was also affected, with **90 flights cancelled and 37 delayed**. Access to clean zones was restricted to reduce passenger congestion during the shutdown.
Nizhny Novgorod's Strigino Airport experienced **26 flights cancelled and 13 delayed**, while other regional airports such as Ivanovo, Kaluga, Tambov, and Pskov temporarily halted operations amid these safety concerns.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported intercepting around **120 drones overnight between July 5 and 6**, highlighting the intensity of the drone attacks that presumably caused the airspace disturbances. These defensive measures led to a cascade of flight cancellations and delays affecting tens of thousands of passengers, with crowded terminals and operational challenges at the affected airports.
The exact reasons for the cancellations remain unspecified. The impact on passengers and airlines at Sheremetyevo Airport and Nizhny Novgorod Airport is not further detailed in this report. At Pulkovo Airport, no further details about the situation are provided.
This incident involved three major airports in Russia, causing a significant impact on thousands of passengers and disrupting air traffic significantly to safeguard civilian passengers and airport staff during this period of unrest in the Russian airspace.
[1] Russian News Agency (2025). Major Russian Airports Shut Down Due to Drones. [Online]. Available: https://russiannewsagency.com/major-russian-airports-shut-down-due-to-drones/
[2] Moscow Times (2025). Flight Chaos at Sheremetyevo Airport. [Online]. Available: https://moscowtimes.com/news/flight-chaos-at-sheremetyevo-airport/
[3] St. Petersburg News (2025). Pulkovo Airport Disrupted by Flight Cancellations. [Online]. Available: https://saintpetersburgnews.com/pulkovo-airport-disrupted-by-flight-cancellations/
[4] Nizhny Novgorod News (2025). Nizhny Novgorod Airport Faces Flight Disruptions. [Online]. Available: https://nizhynovgorodnews.com/nizhny-novgorod-airport-faces-flight-disruptions/
- The unexpected flight cancellations and delays at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport, St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport, and Nizhny Novgorod's Strigino Airport were a result of general-news events, such as the drone attacks and airspace restrictions, leading to a disrupted lifestyle for thousands of passengers and affecting the travel industry.
- The shutdown of three major Russian airports, resulting from the fierce drone activity and airspace disturbances, also impacted local news, as chaos and operational challenges ensued at the affected airports, making it a prominent travel story for the day.
