Vnukovo Airport says the baggage delays that affected Turkish Airlines passengers earlier this year have now been brought under control, with officials confident the problem will not return. According to Anton Kuznetsov, the airport’s Deputy General Director for Commercial Affairs, the disruptions during the summer of 2025 stemmed from a combination of airspace restrictions and operational adjustments required by the airline.

Kuznetsov explained that limits on the use of airspace in the Moscow Aviation Hub forced Turkish Airlines to load additional fuel on certain flights, ensuring flexibility for potential route changes or holding patterns. The extra fuel weight meant the carrier occasionally had to prioritise passengers over checked bags to comply with take-off requirements. “There were cases when the airline sent passengers but restricted commercial loading at the expense of baggage,” he said.

The airport worked with both Russian aviation authorities and Turkish Airlines to address the issue. According to Kuznetsov, the carrier has since revised its approach, and by late summer and autumn the wave of baggage delays had stopped. “We believe the problem has been resolved, and Turkish Airlines has changed its approach,” he added during the opening of Vnukovo’s new Tchaikovsky business lounge in the international departures area.

Throughout the summer of 2025, Turkish Airlines experienced several instances of baggage arriving late at Vnukovo, prompting complaints from travellers. Airport officials now maintain there should be no repeat of the widespread delays that characterised the height of the travel season.