Russia grounds Azur Air flights after string of mid-air emergencies

Azur Air to Cut Flights from April 4

Russian airline Azur Air has announced the early termination of flights from Barnaul to Thailand, Tolk reports, citing NGS22.RU.

According to travel agencies, flights to Pattaya will be suspended starting April 4, while service to Phuket Island will end on April 6. The decision follows recommendations from Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) to reduce the airline's flight schedule.

Anna Serokhvostova, a representative of one travel agency, admitted that the cancellation of direct flights came as an unwelcome surprise. Customers are now being offered refunds or alternative booking options.

In recent months, incidents involving Azur Air aircraft have become increasingly frequent. Passengers on a Fukuoka–Kazan flight reported loud bangs from the left engine mid-flight, followed by an emergency landing due to engine failure. Additionally, a Phuket–Barnaul flight was forced to declare an emergency and land in China, while another aircraft en route from Nha Trang to Irkutsk made an unscheduled landing in Hanoi for the same reason.

Due to the string of incidents, Rosaviatsiya has imposed restrictions on the validity period of Azur Air's air operator certificate.

As Tolk reports, a new Barnaul–Nha Trang route will launch in April, operated by Vietnamese carrier VietJet Air. The service will run through October, with direct flights including a technical refueling stop in Hanoi.

## Rosaviatsiya Restricts Azur Air's Operator Certificate Over Violations