Russia’s Flights to Fall – Finally, a Peek at the Growing Lockout
Picture this: You’re scrolling through Aviasales, eyes glued to that blue “Book” button, only to find every seat filled or vanished. That was Saturday, 21 September, as Moscow‑to‑Istanbul and Yerevan flights sold out in a split second. Why? Because President Vladimir Putin named 300,000 reservists to head straight into the trenches.
What the President Decided
- Only experienced soldiers, not the student crowd or fresh conscripts, get summoned.
- The Kremlin remains tight‑lipped about whether the borders will be shut hard for those under the mobilisation order.
- They ask for patience while the legal fine‑print updates.
Google Trends: Aviasales Swells
The search engine hit a spike for
Aviasales – Russia’s go‑to flight booking platform.
Ticket Prices and the “Sky‑High” Rouble
- One‑way fares to Turkey jumped to ~70,000 rubles (≈S$2,700), up from just over 22,000 a week earlier.
- Flights to Dubai were so pricey that a typical ticket earned you more than 300,000 rubles – roughly the cost of five months of a worker’s salary.
- Stop‑over routes, including Moscow‑to‑Tbilisi, were also on backlog.
Airlines Keep Open Arms – For the Moment
Despite the nerve‑wracking mood, Aeroflot and the state tourism agency said there were no travel restrictions yet. “Ticket sales aren’t capped,” Aeroflot’s spokesperson shared. The only real limitation today? Those who are supposed to leave the country.
Bottom Line
Buy now, or you might end up with a trip that’s a fewer horse‑for‑every‑horse. Flights are flying faster than a Russian bomber’s speed, and the rush is saving no one from the possibility of being deemed “home‑bound.” Market watchers say the overview hints at a perfect storm of emergency travel and military necessity—blending the routine with the hunk of off‑handed “can‑you‑trust‑the‑system-on-sunday?” vibes.
