Air Tanzania suspends flights to Russia over safety concerns

In a public notice, Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) announced that flights TC422 and TC423 had been suspended after the assessment supported a temporary pause in operations.

“The decision follows a routine risk assessment of the operating environment along the route. ATCL conducts these assessments continuously across our entire network, and where the outcome supports a pause, we take one,” the airline stated.

The carrier explained that the decision was guided by safety considerations, which it stressed take precedence over commercial interests.

“Safety considerations always take precedence over commercial ones,” ATCL noted.

The airline did not specify the particular safety risks identified during the assessment or directly link the suspension to the ongoing Russia‑Ukraine conflict.

The move comes amid heightened concerns over the safety of Russian airspace following increased Ukrainian drone activity and warnings from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over risks to civilian aviation.

Russia’s Transportation Ministry indicated Wednesday that civil aviation authorities were working with the military to prevent “any significant disruption” to domestic air travel following Ukraine’s airspace warning earlier in the week.

ATCL confirmed that passengers holding tickets for the affected flights would be offered a full refund or rebooking to an alternative date or routing at no additional cost.

"We continue to monitor conditions in consultation with the relevant authorities and will announce the resumption of services as soon as the assessment supports it,” the airline added.

The suspension comes about two months after Air Tanzania launched its direct service between Dar es Salaam and Moscow’s Vnukovo International Airport.

Air Tanzania has become the first foreign airline to suspend flights to Russia amid the latest concerns over the safety of Russian airspace.

The airline expressed regret over the inconvenience caused and thanked its customers for their continued trust and support.