Russian carrier Azur Air is dropping its winter flights to Vietnam's Nha Trang from seven Russian cities. The airline announced the decision on 6 October 2026 via its official Telegram channel, coordinated with tour operators: instead of Nha Trang, the freed-up aircraft will fly more frequently to Thailand's Phuket from the same group of cities. If you've already booked a Vietnam package with an Azur Air flight, here's who is affected and what to do.
What changed
Nha Trang, a resort on Vietnam's southeast coast, was due to get direct Azur Air flights for winter 2026/2027 from seven Russian cities: Moscow, Mineralnye Vody, Tyumen, Omsk, Perm, Samara and Chelyabinsk. Those flights were planned to launch in November, but the carrier has pulled them. The freed capacity goes to Thailand instead: flight frequency to Phuket will increase from Moscow, Kazan, Mineralnye Vody, Samara, Surgut, Tyumen and Ufa.
Azur Air's press office confirmed the winter schedule adjustment was made "in coordination with tour operators" — a planned reallocation of aircraft to match actual demand, not an unannounced disruption. The airline hasn't publicly explained why Nha Trang specifically lost the route.
Who is affected
The change only affects Azur Air's own Nha Trang route from the seven cities listed above. If you're flying to Vietnam with a different carrier or into a different Vietnamese airport, this doesn't touch you: Aeroflot, Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet continue to run their own programmes to Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Phu Quoc, and none of those flights are cancelled.
At risk are travellers who already paid for a package tour to Nha Trang 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 a winter Nha Trang package.
What to do if you already booked a tour
- Contact the tour operator you booked through — they handle package rebooking, not the airline directly.
- Ask about your options: a full refund, rebooking to a new date, or switching destinations (most often to the same hotel chain's properties in Phuket).
- 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 the normal fare-change penalties.
Double-check your dates: if your departure falls outside the November 2026 – March 2027 window, ask your operator whether the cancellation even applies to your booking — the winter schedule adjustment doesn't touch the 2026 summer charters that have already flown.
Nha Trang → Phuket: what changes by city
Cities where Azur Air drops Nha Trang flights and adds Phuket frequency instead
| Destination | Departure cities | What's happening |
|---|---|---|
| Nha Trang (Vietnam) | Moscow, Mineralnye Vody, Tyumen, Omsk, Perm, Samara, Chelyabinsk | Azur Air's winter 2026/2027 flights fully cancelled |
| Phuket (Thailand) | Moscow, Kazan, Mineralnye Vody, Samara, Surgut, Tyumen, Ufa | Flight frequency increased to replace Nha Trang |
Note that the two city lists don't match one-to-one: Kazan, Surgut and Ufa gain more Phuket flights despite never having had Nha Trang service, while Omsk, Perm and Chelyabinsk lose their Vietnam route without a direct Thailand replacement. If you're booking from these three cities for winter, confirm the actual flight programme with your tour operator first.
Sources
Airline schedules and routes can change without notice — confirm your flight's current status with the airline or tour operator before travelling.
- Kommersant, 6 October 2026 — confirms the Nha Trang cancellation and the Phuket frequency increase.
- PRIME news agency, 6 October 2026 — city list and Azur Air press-office quote.
- Azur Air's Telegram channel — the airline's official channel for checking flight status.
* Carrier schedules, routes and prices are approximate and subject to change. Check the latest information with the airline and tour operator before you travel.
