Russia: Turkish Airlines’ Baggage Issue Resolved, Sanctions Not on the Agenda
The Russian Ministry of Transport announced that the recent baggage delivery issues on Turkish Airlines flights to Russia have been largely resolved. Deputy Minister Vladimir Poteshkin stated that a positive trend has been observed as a result of the dialogue with Turkey, adding, “Passengers are now traveling with their luggage, and the problem of baggage not being delivered has ended.” Poteshkin emphasized that therefore, the possibility of sanctions against the Turkish carrier is not under consideration.
ℹ️ What Happened?
In June, on Antalya–Moscow flights, the luggage of hundreds of Russian tourists was not loaded onto the planes. When passengers could not retrieve their suitcases upon arrival, they voiced their frustration on social media. Following this incident, the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) and the Ministry of Transport launched an investigation, requesting Turkish Airlines to deliver the baggage to its owners as quickly as possible and review its procedures.
Similar issues persisted in July and August, with hundreds of suitcases delayed on some flights arriving in Moscow, forcing passengers to wait for long periods. As public backlash grew, Russian authorities officially warned Turkish Airlines, stating that if passenger rights continued to be violated, flight restrictions and sanctions could be considered.
