Russia’s flagship carrier, Aeroflot, faced a significant operational setback as it cancelled more than 40 flights on Monday following a failure in its information systems. The disruption impacted domestic routes within Russia as well as international flights to Minsk and Yerevan, leaving passengers stranded and confused at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport. The airline acknowledged the issue but did not disclose the cause of the failure or an estimated resolution time.

The scenes at Sheremetyevo were described as chaotic, with long queues forming and passengers being advised to collect their luggage and exit the airport. Aeroflot stated that its specialists are working to minimise the impact on the schedule and restore normal operations as quickly as possible.

Although flight disruptions have become more common in Russia since the onset of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, they have mostly been linked to temporary closures due to drone threats. However, this incident appears to be rooted in a major technical breakdown, adding a fresh layer of challenges to the nation’s already limited air connectivity.

Despite international sanctions and limited routes, Aeroflot continues to rank among the world’s top 20 airlines in terms of passenger traffic. According to the airline's 2024 data, it carried 55.3 million passengers under the Aeroflot Group banner, highlighting its significant role in Russian and global aviation.

This incident not only disrupted travel plans but also raised concerns about the reliability of infrastructure supporting major airline operations in the current geopolitical environment.