Weather disruptions disrupted operations at Moscow’s three major hubs—Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Sheremetyevo—with dozens of flights affected as adverse conditions rolled through the day. Data aggregated by Yandex Calendar, which tracks real-time schedules and weather advisories, confirmed multiple delays and cancellations. The ripple effect touched travelers, cargo movements, and airline routines as crews recalibrated gate assignments, routing, and ground-handling needs. The pattern reflects a winter weather regime that often brings cold air masses, gusty winds, and intermittent snowfall. Those planning around the New Year faced the practical reality that even routine departures could shift at short notice as ground teams and air traffic management responded to evolving conditions.
By 11:40 Moscow time the day of the disruption, Vnukovo logged nine delays and five cancellations, Domodedovo reported 16 delays and one cancellation, and Sheremetyevo faced eight delays alongside a substantial 58 cancellations. The uneven distribution illustrates how each airport contends with its own bottlenecks even when regional weather systems impose broader constraints. Delays typically arise from de-icing needs, runway clearance, and the staggered sequencing required to maintain safety. Cancellations escalate when forecasts turn more severe or when flight plans encounter conflicts with air traffic flow, gate availability, or crew scheduling. For travelers, the immediate impact means tighter connections, longer waiting times, and a greater emphasis on travel flexibility and safety planning.
Analyst commentary from meteorology circles suggested unsettled conditions around the year-end period, with forecasts calling for cloudy skies, light snow, sleet, and temperatures hovering around plus two degrees Celsius. These conditions can create slick tarmacs and periodically reduced visibility, influencing decisions on de-icing procedures, fuel consumption, and aircraft turnaround times. In practical terms, travelers should anticipate disruptions that extend beyond fresh snowfall, as crews adapt to shifting forecasts while aiming to preserve on-time performance where possible. Forecasters noted that even brief weather lulls can be followed by renewed snow or freezing drizzle that alters surface operations and flight plans.
Official guidance indicated snowfall risks for parts of the region on the first night of the year, with temperatures forecast to stay near or above zero. When snow mixes with wet pavement and cold air, taxi speeds, braking distances, and the reliability of surface transportation between airports can be affected. Airports and airlines typically respond by increasing de-icing capacity, adjusting air traffic scheduling, and issuing advisories to passengers about potential changes. The interaction between snowfall intensity and temperature keeps operators vigilant, ensuring safety protocols remain intact while pursuing punctuality as much as feasible. For the traveling public, this translates into ongoing monitoring of flight statuses, flexible itineraries, and contingency plans that include alternative airports or downstream connections if weather worsens abruptly.
In related coverage, reports from RBC noted that the Federal Air Transport Agency paused issuing warnings about extending flight restrictions from airports in Russia’s southern and central regions. The decision underscored how regulators balance timely advisories with practical value for travelers when weather is unstable and holiday demand remains high. For flyers, this means that official bulletins may lessen in frequency, but weather risks persist and travelers should rely on direct airline notices and airport announcements for the latest updates. Day-to-day alerts continue to be shaped by ground realities, including runway conditions, de-icing throughput, and airspace capacity, all of which can change rapidly in winter weather scenarios. The bottom line for passengers is to stay informed through direct sources and to expect possible shifts in schedules as conditions evolve.