Three more airlines suspend flights to some Russian cities after Azerbaijan Airlines crash

At least three more airlines have suspended certain flights to and from Russia after the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet in Aktau, Kazakhstan, on December 25.

Azerbaijan Airlines has halted flights from Baku to seven Russian cities — Mineralnye Vody, Sochi, Volgograd, Ufa, Samara, Grozny, and Makhachkala — starting December 28. The airline said these flights will resume once authorities complete their investigation into the crash.

Kazakhstani carrier Qazaq Air has suspended its Astana–Yekaterinburg route until January 27, 2025. The airline cited “a continuous assessment of the risks associated with flights to Russia” and emphasized the move was “to ensure the safety of passengers and crew.”

Additionally, Flydubai has cancelled flights to Dubai from the Russian cities of Sochi and Mineralnye Vody from December 28 until January 5, according to the Russian Association of Tour Operators.

Earlier, Israel’s national airline El Al announced it was suspending flights between Tel Aviv and Moscow for at least the next week. 

On Friday, Azerbaijan Airlines stated that preliminary findings suggest the crashed plane suffered “external physical and technical interference,” according to Reuters.