Thousands of Russian Tourists Stranded as Mid-East Airspace Closures Snarl Indian Ocean Routes

MOSCOW, March 10 – The Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) reports that Zanzibar, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives are currently the most problematic locations for Russian tourists unable to return home. The closures of airspace across several Middle Eastern nations, a consequence of recent military strikes, have severed critical flight connections.

According to ATOR, citing data from major tour operators, approximately 5,000 Russian travelers—both on package tours and independent trips—are currently experiencing significant difficulties on exotic islands across the Indian Ocean. Their return flights, which typically transit through hubs in the Persian Gulf, have been grounded.

A separate, larger group of up to 10,000 Russians in Thailand may also face disruptions, as they hold return tickets with connections through the affected Middle Eastern countries. ATOR estimates that between 1,100 and 1,300 organized tourists on island and Asian holidays are currently awaiting departure.

"The most severe situation is in Zanzibar, where it is physically impossible to fly out," said Arthur Muradyan, ATOR Vice President and head of Space Travel. "There are also complications, though less severe, in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, which were served by Air Arabia. Tourists are also waiting in Thailand for transit connections to resume."

The tour operator Russian Express confirmed that organized groups remain stranded in Asia and on Indian Ocean islands, awaiting the restart of transit flights via Gulf states. The travel chaos stems from a sharp escalation of conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran in late February, which led several regional nations to fully or partially close their airspace due to security concerns.