YuSMP Travel Editorial Team
Russian carrier AZUR air has fully cancelled its winter charter programme to Thailand's Pattaya from ten Russian cities. The cancellation was confirmed on 22 October 2026 by the airline's press office and by tour operator FUN&SUN, the programme's main backer: the adjustment was made "at the request of tour operators." If you've already booked a Pattaya package with an AZUR air flight for winter 2026/2027, here's who is affected and what to do.
What changed
Pattaya, a resort on the Gulf of Thailand, was due to get AZUR air flights this winter from ten Russian cities. Instead, the airline pulled the whole programme: there are no more package tours on this carrier's Pattaya flights in the booking system. AZUR air's press office confirmed the adjustment to the Russian tourism trade outlet ATOR's Vestnik: "We confirm the correction of flight programmes; the changes are made at the request of tour operators."
The programme's main backer was tour operator FUN&SUN. Travel agents are hoping AZUR air's Pattaya flights will eventually return — but with a different operator partner.
Who is affected
The change only affects AZUR air's own Pattaya route. If you're flying to Thailand with a different carrier or to a different Thai resort, this doesn't touch you: Nordwind Airlines and Siam Wings still serve Pattaya, and you can also reach it via scheduled Aeroflot or S7 flights to Bangkok, followed by roughly a two-hour drive.
At risk are travellers who already paid for a Pattaya package with an AZUR air flight for the winter season (November 2026 – March 2027). If you haven't booked yet, ask your tour operator which airline actually operates the flight before buying.
What to do if you already booked a tour
- Contact the tour operator you booked through — they handle package rebooking, not the airline directly.
- For Samara and Ufa, FUN&SUN has already decided: Pattaya tours from these two cities are cancelled, and travellers are offered either to keep their hotel booking or get a refund.
- For the remaining departure cities, FUN&SUN is working on moving travellers onto alternative airlines and says it will update bookings as new options are confirmed.
- If you booked only a flight ticket directly with AZUR air (no package), contact the airline's call centre — they're required to inform you about cancelled flights.
- Check your trip-cancellation insurance and fare conditions: when a carrier cancels a flight, the refund is usually not subject to normal fare-change penalties.
"We are working through every departure city where AZUR air flights were previously planned. For Pattaya tours from Samara and Ufa, the decision has been made to cancel: travellers from these cities are offered either to keep their hotel stay or get a refund. For all other cities, we have already started moving travellers onto alternative airlines," FUN&SUN's press office said.
Pattaya, Phuket and Sri Lanka: AZUR air's winter programme
AZUR air's winter 2026/2027 programme, according to ATOR's Vestnik
| Destination | Departure cities | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Pattaya (Thailand) | Full list not disclosed; Samara and Ufa confirmed | Winter 2026/2027 flights fully cancelled — 10 cities |
| Phuket (Thailand) | Kazan, Ufa, Yekaterinburg, Tyumen, Moscow, Samara, Omsk, Mineralnye Vody, Novosibirsk, Surgut, Chelyabinsk | Programme continues, 11 cities |
| Sri Lanka, Hambantota | Moscow, Samara, Ufa, Kazan, Mineralnye Vody, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Tyumen | Winter programme continues, 8 cities |
Note that Ufa and Samara appear in two rows of the table: their Pattaya flights are cancelled, but AZUR air keeps flying from the same two cities to Phuket and Sri Lanka. If you're planning a winter trip to Sri Lanka or to Phuket from one of the cities in the table, AZUR air's programme on those routes isn't affected by this cancellation.
Sources
Airline schedules and tour-operator programmes can change without notice — confirm your flight's current status with the airline or tour operator before travelling.
- ATOR's Vestnik, 22 October 2026 — official quotes from AZUR air's and FUN&SUN's press offices, the Phuket and Sri Lanka city lists.
- Vedomosti, 22 October 2026 — independent confirmation of the Pattaya programme cancellation.
* Carrier schedules, routes and prices are approximate and subject to change. Check the latest information with the airline and tour operator before you travel.
