Delays affect over 30 flights at Sochi's airport
Sochi Airport, Russia, is experiencing delays of over two hours for 35 flights, despite the recent lifting of restrictions. The delays are primarily due to operational reasons of the airlines rather than airport or security issues.
According to the Sochi airport press service, the airport has returned to normal operation, with no more than 1-2% of flights delayed. These minor delays are attributed to the airlines' operational challenges, as they work to revise and normalize their schedules following days of disruption caused by a security threat.
The delays follow a series of drone attacks and related security restrictions that temporarily disrupted airport operations around August 8–9. The restrictions, imposed to ensure safety amid threats from UAVs targeting the Krasnodar region and the federal territory of Sirius, caused significant flight delays and cancellations.
Despite the official lifting of restrictions and the reopening of the airspace, the backlog and scheduling ripple effects are likely affecting flight timings. Passengers are being served according to the Federal Aviation Rules of Russia, with departures scheduled based on their order and the readiness of the aircraft.
The airport and airline services are operating in an enhanced mode to swiftly restore the schedule at Sochi Airport. The situation in the terminals remains calm, and there are no new advertisements. Over 80 flights have already departed from Sochi Airport, and services are being provided as they arrive.
The Sochi Airport press service continues to report on the current situation and collaborates with the airlines to restore normal operations as quickly as possible. The delays are the residual effects of earlier security-related disruptions compounded by airline operational issues as services return to regular schedules at Sochi Airport.
- The general-news reporting around Sochi Airport suggests that despite the airport's return to normal operation and the recent lifting of restrictions, delays in flights continue due to the airlines' operational challenges in revising and normalizing their schedules after the series of drone attacks and related security restrictions.
- The weather at Sochi Airport appears to have minimal impact on flight operations since the airport's press service reports that the delays experienced are mainly due to the airlines' operational challenges and the backlog and scheduling ripple effects caused by the earlier security-related disruptions.
