Flights from Russia are fully booked due to concerns among the Russian population over the partial mobilization announced by President Vladimir Putin. This concerns, for example, flights to Turkey and Armenia.
Russians can travel to those countries without a visa.
There are concerns that men will be forced to fight in Ukraine. The mobilization will allow Russia to call up 300,000 reservists for the fight in Ukraine. It is the first time since World War II that Russia has mobilized.
According to Turkish Airlines, one-way flights from Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport to Istanbul, Ankara and Antalya are sold out for the next three to four days. Turkish Airlines says it will increase capacity for Thursday and Friday. The Turkish airline Pegasus also sells out flights from Moscow to Istanbul and other destinations in Turkey.
According to data from the Russian airline Aviasales, direct flights from Moscow to the Armenian capital Yerevan are also sold out, as are tickets to the Georgian capital Tbilisi. Flights from Russia to Dubai are also in high demand.
The cheapest flights from Moscow to Istanbul now cost more than 80,000 rubles or 1,328 euros. After that, prices rose to as much as 173,000 rubles, according to the Turkish Airlines website.