Aeroflot has suspended all air travel to Abkhazia.
No Plans for Aeroflot to Resume Abkhazia Flights, Despite Russian Carriers' Return
Ditching its plans to fly over Abkhazia, Aeroflot remains inactive in the region despite Russian aircraft resuming flights there after nearly three decades, according to the airline's press service. Kinda sucks for jet-setters, huh?
Previously, Sergei Kirienko, deputy head of the Russian presidential administration, announced that flights from Russia to Sukhumi would take off on May 1. Flights to this war-torn region have been grounded since 1993.
"Aeroflot has no intentions of taking flights to Abkhazia," the press service confirmed.
As smaller Russian airlines such as UTair and Ikar prepare for regular flights to Sukhumi (starting May 3 and May 6, respectively), Aeroflot seems to be missing out on the action due to operational complexities and sanctions-related issues. Western sanctions have limited Aeroflot's access to foreign-made aircraft and spare parts, potentially restraining its ability to soar on specific routes.
Additionally, flights to Abkhazia may adhere to domestic Russian routing protocols, calling for aircraft configurated for specific regulatory standards that Aeroflot's international fleet might struggle to meet due to current restrictions.
It's also possible that Aeroflot is playing it safe, avoiding potential overflight restrictions and airspace complications by focusing on international routes where they can compliantly fly without any hassle. Abkhazia is internationally recognized as part of Georgia, which could add another layer of complications to airspace agreements, but that's purely speculative. Bummer, huh?
On the brighter side, if you're looking for a flight to Sukhumi, check out those Russian carriers: UTair, Ikar, NordStar, or iFly. They're all set to fly the skies of Abkhazia! Travelling by land or sea remains an option too, just FYI.
In summer 2023, Russia and Abkhazia made the cool decision to revamp their air hub, with the first test flight from Moscow making history in February 2025. Yee-haw!
Cheers to seeing the world! Or at least Abkhazia, if you're up for it. 😉
- Aeroflot, despite Russian aircraft resuming flights to Abkhazia, has no intentions of taking flights to this war-torn region.
- Operational complexities and sanctions-related issues might be preventing Aeroflot from flying to Abkhazia, limiting its ability to fly specific routes.
- Western sanctions have restricted Aeroflot's access to foreign-made aircraft and spare parts, potentially impacting its fleet configurations for flights to Abkhazia.
- Smaller Russian airlines like UTair, Ikar, NordStar, and iFly are preparing for regular flights to Sukhumi, so travellers looking to visit Abkhazia have other options available.
