Hundreds of passengers were left stranded across Moscow on February 13, 2026, as severe disruption rippled through the Russian capital’s main airports. Between Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo and Vnukovo, a combined total of more than 300 flights faced schedule chaos, with at least 302 departures and arrivals delayed and several services cancelled outright. Travellers on key Russian carriers including Aeroflot, S7 Airlines and UTair bore the brunt of the disruption, which quickly overwhelmed terminals, packed departure halls and raised renewed questions about the resilience of Moscow’s air transport system.
Heavy Snowfall Triggers Morning Meltdown Across Moscow’s Airports
The disruption began building overnight as a powerful band of snow moved into the Moscow region, intensifying before dawn on February 13. By morning, visibility had deteriorated, runway clearing operations were struggling to keep pace with the snowfall, and air traffic control imposed tighter spacing between aircraft movements for safety reasons. These compounding factors led to immediate knock-on delays across all three of the capital’s main passenger hubs.
Early data from Russian aviation trackers and regional media indicated that Vnukovo was among the hardest hit in the initial hours. More than 20 flights were unable to depart or accept passengers at various stages overnight and into the morning, with aircraft held at gates or parked on remote stands awaiting clearance. Sheremetyevo, the country’s largest international hub and Aeroflot’s primary base, saw more than two dozen flights affected by mid-morning, as both departures and arrivals slipped well behind schedule.
At Domodedovo, the snow and low visibility created further bottlenecks. Dozens of aircraft were queued for de-icing, forcing airlines to hold boarding or keep passengers seated on aircraft as slots were reshuffled. With fresh snowfall forecast to continue throughout the day, airport officials warned that delays would persist and possibly intensify before any significant improvement in operations could be guaranteed.
Scale of Disruption: 302 Delays and Cancellations Concentrated at Three Major Hubs
By midday on February 13, the cumulative impact of the weather and air traffic restrictions had become stark. Across Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo and Vnukovo, at least 302 flights were reported delayed, and several more cancelled, effectively paralysing large portions of Moscow’s scheduled traffic. While Russian aviation authorities did not immediately publish a consolidated figure, industry monitors and airport departure boards showed growing columns of red-tinted status updates as the morning progressed.
Sheremetyevo registered dozens of delayed flights as average wait times crept beyond one hour for many departures and arrivals. Live operational statistics indicated that roughly one third of outgoing flights were affected, with overall average delays ballooning to more than an hour. Domodedovo and Vnukovo, which handle a mix of domestic and international services, reported comparable disruption, with waves of delays that in many cases stretched beyond two hours as the storm persisted.
A number of flights were cancelled outright where crew duty limitations, lack of available aircraft or worsening conditions made further waiting impractical. Although the number of cancellations remained relatively limited compared to the volume of delays, they added to the uncertainty for travellers, especially those on tight connections or travelling to regional destinations with infrequent service. In total, the combined impact at the three major Moscow airports amounted to one of the most significant single-day weather-related disruptions so far this winter travel season.
Passengers Stranded in Packed Terminals With Limited Information
For passengers, the statistics translated into long queues, crowded terminals and a day defined by uncertainty. At Sheremetyevo, one of Europe’s busiest hubs, check-in areas and departure halls became densely packed as early morning delays cascaded into the late morning and early afternoon banks of flights. Families with children lined the floors near charging points, while business travellers clustered around flight information screens, refreshing airline apps for updates.
At Domodedovo, some travellers reported being asked to remain near their gates for hours as departure times were repeatedly pushed back in small increments. Others were advised that their flights were still estimated to depart, even as crews and aircraft were repositioned around the airport. In many cases, the only indication of deterioration came when departures disappeared from screens or were marked as cancelled after prolonged periods of “delayed” status.
Vnukovo, typically popular with domestic and regional travellers as well as certain low cost and charter operations, saw passengers crowd into cafes and seating areas as the airport advised flyers to stay inside the terminals and monitor announcements. While some airlines distributed water, snacks or meal vouchers, many travellers reportedly had to purchase their own food and drinks while they waited, adding financial frustration to an already stressful experience.
Aeroflot, S7 Airlines, UTair and Others Scramble to Rework Schedules
Among the carriers most affected were the country’s leading airlines, including Aeroflot, S7 Airlines and UTair, each of which maintains extensive operations in Moscow. Aeroflot, headquartered at Sheremetyevo, faced particular strain as delays at its main hub threatened to unravel its tightly wound network of domestic and international connections. Aircraft that were meant to operate multiple legs throughout the day became stuck in Moscow, forcing the airline to reshuffle fleets and crews.
S7 Airlines, which operates a large share of its Moscow flights out of Domodedovo, also reported substantial disruption. The airline’s domestic routes to Siberia and Russia’s Far East were especially vulnerable, as long flight times and limited alternative services meant that any delay could leave passengers without viable same day rebooking options. UTair, a key operator on routes linking Moscow with regional centres, similarly faced the prospect of aircraft and crews out of position by the end of the day.
Other carriers, including charter operators and foreign airlines serving the Russian capital, were also caught in the disruption. Some opted to delay departures from their origin airports to avoid having aircraft stranded on the ground in Moscow with no guaranteed return slot. Others diverted flights to alternate airports when holding patterns over the capital grew too long. Collectively, these measures highlighted how quickly a weather related event in one city can reverberate across a far wider aviation network.
Operational Constraints: De Icing, Runway Clearing and Air Traffic Flow
The mechanics of airport operations under heavy snowfall conditions played a central role in the day’s disruption. All three major Moscow airports are equipped for winter operations, including dedicated de icing facilities and snow removal fleets. However, when intense precipitation coincides with peak traffic periods, even well prepared airports can struggle to maintain normal throughput.
On February 13, aircraft at Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo queued for de icing as snow continued to accumulate on wings and fuselages during ground stops. Each de icing procedure takes time, and safety protocols require that it be repeated if conditions deteriorate before takeoff. This extended the turnaround times for each flight and reduced the number of movements that could realistically be handled per hour on each runway.
Runway clearing operations further constrained capacity. Plows and sweepers must periodically close active runways to remove snow and slush, and each closure interrupts the flow of arrivals and departures. Air traffic controllers, meanwhile, were tasked with managing larger separation distances between aircraft due to visibility and braking action concerns. The result was a finely balanced system pushed beyond its practical limits, with delays mounting even as crews and ground staff worked at full stretch to keep operations going.
Context: A Winter of Repeated Disruption in Russian Airspace
The February 13 disruption unfolded against the backdrop of a broader pattern of instability affecting Russian aviation over the past two years. In addition to winter storms and routine weather related challenges, Moscow’s airports have repeatedly faced temporary shutdowns and flight restrictions linked to security alerts and drone activity in the wider region. These incidents, while distinct from the meteorological event that triggered the latest chaos, have tested both the resilience of the capital’s airports and the patience of travellers.
In late December 2025, for example, a wave of drone related airspace restrictions prompted widespread delays and diversions at Moscow’s airports, affecting hundreds of flights and tens of thousands of passengers. Similar suspensions and closures occurred at various points throughout 2024 and 2025, often introduced with little warning and lifted only after several hours of uncertainty. Each event left airlines juggling disrupted rosters, displaced crews and aircraft scattered among alternate airports.
In this context, the February 13 weather related meltdown underscored how quickly multiple risk factors can converge for travellers passing through Moscow. Even in the absence of new security alerts, the combination of intense snowfall, already stretched infrastructure and densely scheduled traffic proved sufficient to trigger a fresh round of widespread disruption.
Traveller Response and Guidance for Future Journeys Through Moscow
As the day progressed, stranded passengers turned to airline desks, social media and news outlets for information and assistance. Many sought rebooking on later flights or alternative routings through secondary hubs in Russia and nearby countries. Others, particularly those on domestic itineraries, weighed whether to abandon their trips altogether and seek rail or long distance bus options instead.
For travellers planning to pass through Moscow in the coming weeks, the events of February 13 offer several practical lessons. First, in winter, allowing substantial buffer time for connections at Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo and Vnukovo can reduce the risk of missed onward flights. Second, booking itineraries that include flexible change options, or choosing fares that permit same day rebooking without excessive penalties, can provide a valuable safety net when conditions deteriorate.
Passengers are also advised to travel with essential medications, chargers and a change of clothes in their carry on luggage, given the growing likelihood of extended waits in terminals or unplanned overnight stays. Keeping local currency on hand, as well as downloading airline apps and airport information services in advance, can further ease the strain when information desks are overwhelmed and public announcements are difficult to hear in crowded halls.
Outlook: Gradual Normalisation, Lingering Backlogs
By late afternoon on February 13, Moscow’s airports were slowly beginning to recover, with runway operations stabilising as snow removal caught up and visibility improved in some sectors. However, the scale of the earlier disruption meant that normal traffic patterns were unlikely to resume fully before late evening or even into the following day. Aircraft and crews were out of position, and many long haul services faced difficult choices about whether to wait for delayed inbound connections or depart without significant numbers of transit passengers.
Aeroflot, S7 Airlines, UTair and other carriers warned that residual delays and schedule adjustments could persist for at least 24 hours as they worked to restore their networks. Some passengers who were unable to depart on February 13 faced the prospect of overnight accommodation or rolling rebooking onto flights in the days ahead, particularly on heavily booked routes and to leisure destinations where capacity is already tight.
For Moscow’s aviation system, the day’s events served as another reminder of the vulnerability of even major, well equipped hubs to extreme weather and operational strain. For travellers, they highlighted the value of preparation, flexibility and patience when flying through a city whose airports have, in recent years, become synonymous with both impressive connectivity and sudden, far reaching disruption.