Turkish Airlines Slashes Flights to Russia, Travelers Face Higher Prices and Uncertainty

Russian tourists heading to Turkey this summer may need to brace for sticker shock and last-minute schedule chaos. Turkish Airlines, the country’s flagship carrier, has canceled more than 300 flights scheduled for May and June on routes to Russia, according to reports from Baza. The airline is also gradually suspending service on 18 other international routes, citing a combination of geopolitical tensions, falling demand from European travelers, and rising jet fuel costs.

Travel experts say the ripple effects are already hitting Russian vacationers. Victoria Podolskaya, head of the tour company Lady On Travel, notes that passengers who booked packages with Turkish Airlines flights are increasingly being switched to Southwind Airlines charters. Conditions on those planes are noticeably worse: no meal service, less comfortable seating, and unreliable schedules. “It’s becoming a lottery,” Podolskaya says. “People can’t plan their holidays because flights keep getting canceled or rescheduled.”

She warns that unless other carriers add more routes, the shortage of available seats will push up the price of tours to Turkey’s resort regions. The situation has already sparked frustration among high-profile travelers. Russian TV host Ksenia Borodina recently described a Turkish Airlines flight as “absolute hell,” blasting the carrier for charging high fares while offering subpar service.

For now, Russian tourists face a tough choice: pay more, gamble on charters, or reconsider their summer plans entirely.