Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) has announced new restrictions on flights from Baku to Russia. According to a decision by the Azerbaijani State Civil Aviation Agency, flights to eight additional cities will be suspended starting from December 28.
Which Cities Are Affected by the Flight Suspension?
In line with the new decision, flights from Baku to the following Russian cities have been suspended:
- Mineralnye Vodi
- Sochi
- Volgograd
- Ufa
- Samara
- Saratov
- Nizhny Novgorod
- Vladikavkaz
AZAL has announced that passengers who purchased tickets for these routes will be fully refunded or granted the option for free changes.
Reason for the Flight Restrictions: The Kazakhstan Plane Crash
Azerbaijan Airlines stated that the decision was made in light of the preliminary findings of the investigation into the crash of flight J2-8243, an Embraer 190 plane traveling from Baku to Grozny, and potential safety risks. The crash resulted in 38 fatalities and 29 injuries.
Qazaq Air Suspends Flights to Russia
Kazakh airline Qazaq Air also announced on December 27 that flights between Astana and Yekaterinburg would be suspended until January 27.
Earlier Suspension of Flights to Grozny and Makhachkala
Initially, Azerbaijan Airlines had suspended flights from Baku to Grozny and Makhachkala after the crash. Preliminary reports suggesting that the crash was the result of external physical and technical interference influenced the expansion of these restrictions.
Flight Safety Concerns Regarding Russia Grow
Recent developments have increased concerns among Azerbaijan and neighboring countries regarding flight safety to Russia. Military activity in Russian airspace and regional tensions are having a significant impact on aircraft safety.
Alternative Solutions for Passengers
AZAL aims to minimize passenger disruption by offering quick ticket refunds and route change services for those whose flights were canceled. Depending on the results of the investigation, it has been noted that the suspension period could be extended.
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