Moscow's chaos on Victory Day: Communications and flights disrupted
Airports in Moscow bracing for 9 May: Endless queue for flights, Turkish Airlines axing majority of flights scheduled.
Get ready for a bumpy ride if you're planning to be in Moscow on May 9th, 2025. The city's airports and mobile networks might give you a headache, thanks to some unexpected glitches.
Let's start with the aviation scene. In the days leading up to May 9th, mobile connectivity and air communication issues have been causing quite a nuisance. Despite the odd Ukrainian drone swarm barely targeting Moscow on May 8th, over 100 flights were left delayed or cancelled, leaving some passengers stranded in the city's airports for a second day.
According to the Moscow Interregional Transport Prosecutor's Office, by 9 AM on May 8th, over a hundred flights were delayed, primarily affecting flights in and out of Vnukovo Airport. One airline, Turkish Airlines, even cancelled almost all its flights to and from Vnukovo and Turkey, leaving a good number of tourists stranded in Antalya hotels.
With the Russian Ministry of Transport promising to stabilize the situation by 6 PM Moscow time on May 8th, one might hope for a smoother ride ahead. However, the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) notes that airport displays suggest normalization will take longer, around 8 PM.
Russian Minister of Transport Roman Starovoyt paid a visit to the airports to check their operations. In Sheremetyevo, he was concerned about the less-than-stellar interaction between Aeroflot and passengers of delayed and cancelled flights, ordering all issues to be resolved in the passengers' favor.
As for the mobile networks, they've been causing their own aggravation. Journalist Faryda Rustamova, citing sources in two mobile operators, reports that mobile internet was jammed across the entire city for the first time on May 9th. Operators also expect the shutdown of mobile connectivity during the first half of May 9th. Adding fuel to the fire, reports of a planned full shutdown of communication on May 9th were also made by the Telegram channel VChK-OGPU.
Indeed, a full shutdown of mobile internet and SMS services was implemented on May 9th, as a precautionary measure by the Russian authorities, reportedly due to threats from Ukraine. The shutdown was part of broader communication disruptions, including slowing internet services from May 7 onwards.
Civil aviation across Russia experienced significant disruptions due to a surge in drone attacks near airports, leading to over 350 flight delays and cancellations, affecting about 60,000 travelers. However, air communication was not directly affected by the shutdowns.
So, if you're flying to or from Moscow on May 9th, 2025, brace yourself for potential chaos in the air, and a good chance you'll lose your connection while on ground. Just another day in Moscow, eh?
- In the days leading up to May 9th, 2025, in Moscow, the aviation industry and transportation sector faced challenges, with mobile connectivity and air communication issues disrupting flights.
- Russian Minister of Finance, Roman Starovoyt, expressed concern about the customer service provided by Aeroflot towards passengers of delayed and cancelled flights in Sheremetyevo Airport.
- Simultaneously, the mobile networks in Moscow were jammed for the first time on May 9th, affecting general-news reporting and communication, as reported by journalist Faryda Rustamova.
- Amidst the chaos in the aviation and transportation industries, Russian authorities made the precautionary decision to shut down mobile internet and SMS services on May 9th, due to threats from Ukraine, causing more disruptions in the sphere of crime and justice.
