Kazakh carrier suspends flights to Omsk, Russia, citing drone threat

Image: Vietjet Qazaqstan

Kazakh regional carrier Vietjet Qazaqstan (formerly Qazaq Air) has temporarily suspended flight operations between Astana and Omsk, Russia. The airline cited ‘unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) activity within the territory of the Russian Federation’ as the reason for the decision.

While flights are officially suspended from July 9 to July 20, ticket sales for the route have been closed through the end of August. ‘The safety and security of our passengers and crew remains our absolute priority,’ the airline emphasized. Omsk was one of Vietjet Qazaqstan’s most popular Russian destinations, with a frequency of two daily flights.

The Omsk region was targeted by Ukrainian drone strikes for the first time on July 6, with the Omsk Oil Refinery—one of the largest in the Russia—serving as the primary target. On the day of the attack, the local airport also temporarily restricted arrivals and departures for the first time in its history.

The airline has declared the situation a force majeure event but pledged to do everything possible to transport passengers to their destinations without compromising safety. In addition to offering full ticket refunds, Vietjet Qazaqstan has provided an alternative routing scheme. Passengers can fly the Astana–Petropavl route, from which the airline will arrange a dedicated bus transfer to Omsk, as well as on the return leg. This transfer service is strictly reserved for the airline’s ticket holders. Furthermore, passengers opting for this alternative routing will receive a voucher worth 10,000 tenge for future travel.

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