The disruption forced the cancellation of several hundred flights and delays of about 2,000 more.
A Russian civil aviation expert told The Moscow Times that canceling a Boeing 737-800 flight carrying 158 passengers can cost between 15 and 23 million rubles, depending on the route. That figure includes expenses for airport services charged at standard rates, crew salaries, fuel, and lost revenue.
“The cost of delaying a Boeing 737 flight (defined as a delay of more than 15 minutes) is estimated at about RUB1.5 million ($19,000), excluding additional passenger service expenses,” the expert said.
“Sending the same aircraft to an alternate airport costs roughly 1.5 to 2 million rubles.”
Russian aviation authorities reported that, from July 5 to 7, operations were restricted at Sheremetyevo in Moscow, Pulkovo in St. Petersburg, and Chkalov in Nizhny Novgorod. During that period, airlines canceled 485 flights, diverted 88 to alternate airports, and delayed 1,900 flights.
The chaos left airports overwhelmed. Passengers were seen sitting or lying on the floor, with no available seats in cafés or business lounges. In some cases, travelers were kept on planes for hours after landing. Disruptions were also reported at other airports, including those in Yekaterinburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Kaliningrad and several additional cities.