Sochi airport faces delays on 25 flights due to disruptions caused by a drone attack, leading to flight interruptions.
After a brief period of temporary restrictions due to security concerns, Sochi Airport has largely returned to normal functioning. As of August 11, 2025, the airport declared normal operation with flight delays below 2%.
The restrictions, which were in place around August 8, involved limiting flights twice daily for security reasons following UAV threat alerts. However, since then, flights are being conducted mostly on schedule.
On August 15 and 16, flights continue as planned, including domestic routes by major Russian carriers such as Aeroflot from Sheremetyevo to Sochi and Ural Airlines from Sochi to Saint Petersburg.
The airport has taken measures to ensure a smooth operation during peak periods. An operational headquarters has been set up to make quick decisions, and all services have been reinforced with staff. Temporary restrictions on the arrival of aircraft have been introduced, with a limit of 5 flights per hour to avoid long waits due to a shortage of parking spaces.
During the 2.5-hour restriction, 17 aircraft were redirected to alternate airports, but 10 of them have already returned to Sochi. The international airport did not accept or dispatch any aircraft for 2.5 hours.
Passengers are advised to listen carefully to the audio announcements and can track flight information on the online board in the terminal, on the airport and airline websites, or via the @AerodinamikaBot Telegram bot. A temporary lounge has been opened for passengers with children, and water dispensers have been installed. There is also a mother and child room in the terminal, and free drinking water fountains are located near all restrooms.
It may take up to two days for airlines to fully stabilize the flight schedule. Airline representatives are providing passengers with what they need in accordance with the law, and hospitality managers are providing assistance to passengers in the terminals.
As of 5:00 PM on August 8, 25 flights are delayed by more than two hours at Sochi Airport due to restrictions. However, the current and near-future flight schedules are stable, and future operations in the coming days continue on a standard timetable without the previously imposed security-related restrictions.
Nearby Gelendzhik Airport also resumed normal operations around the same time.
- Despite the temporary restrictions on flights at Sochi Airport due to security concerns, travelers can expect a smooth flight experience, with most flights running on time as of August 15, 2025.
- In the general-news sphere, the return to normal operation at Sochi Airport and nearby Gelendzhik Airport marks a significant improvement in the local lifestyle, alleviating previous travel disruptions and maintaining a steady flow of crime-and-justice updates.
