(ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA) — If you’re flying out of Pulkovo Airport on New Year’s Eve, expect schedule chaos and a higher risk of missed connections, even though local weather in St. Petersburg isn’t the main culprit. More than 40 outbound flights were delayed on December 31, 2025, with one cancellation, while 20+ arriving aircraft also ran late, creating a knock-on effect across the day’s departures.
Pulkovo’s operator, Air Gate of the Northern Capital LLC, said the disruption was primarily driven by late arrivals of aircraft into Pulkovo. In other words, many planes and crews simply didn’t get to St. Petersburg on time to operate their next legs. Some flights were also held while waiting for improved weather conditions in Kaliningrad, adding another pressure point to an already tight holiday schedule.
By the evening of December 31, the airport described delay conditions as moderate and easing. Conditions in St. Petersburg were reported as broken clouds, around 18°F (-8°C), with northwest winds near 6 knots.
Disruption snapshot at Pulkovo (Dec. 31, 2025)
| Item | Count / Status |
|---|---|
| Outbound flights delayed | 40+ |
| Outbound flights canceled | 1 |
| Arriving aircraft delayed | 20+ |
| Primary cause | Late arrivals of aircraft at Pulkovo |
| Secondary factor | Weather impacts in Kaliningrad |
| Evening airport status | Moderate and decreasing |
How late inbound aircraft cascade into larger delays
For travelers, the biggest issue with late inbound aircraft is how quickly delays cascade. A 90-minute delay on an inbound jet can become a multi-hour delay later in the day, especially when the same aircraft is scheduled for several turns.
On New Year’s Eve, schedules also tend to be tighter, with fewer spare aircraft and fewer open seats for rebooking. That makes recovery harder and increases the likelihood of significant passenger impact.
Immediate passenger pain points
Expect the following when irregular operations are in effect:
- Longer lines at transfer desks.
- Heavier call-center loads and slower phone response times.
- Limited same-day alternatives on popular domestic routes.
- Increased risk of missed international connections, as a single late inbound aircraft can wipe out minimum connection time.
Airlines serving St. Petersburg include major Russian carriers and regional operators. When irregular operations hit, your best fallback often depends on which airline issued the ticket and whether interline agreements are in place for reaccommodation.
There’s a practical split between two types of disruption:
– Departure delays: Flight still operates but departs later (appears on your boarding pass).
– Misconnects and rolling delays: Your itinerary becomes impossible without rebooking.
That difference matters for hotels, meals, and refunds.
⚠️ Heads Up: When delays are caused by late inbound aircraft, the next available seat can be the real bottleneck. Rebooking options can disappear within minutes on peak holiday travel days.
What this means for miles, points, and elite status
If you’re flying on a mileage-earning ticket, delays generally don’t reduce the miles you’ll earn if you ultimately fly. The bigger loyalty risk comes from involuntary reroutes.
If you’re rebooked onto a different airline or a different fare bucket, the crediting rules can change. That can affect:
– Redeemable miles earned, depending on partner and fare class.
– Elite-qualifying credit, if your program requires booking in specific classes or crediting to a specific carrier.
Award travelers should be especially careful. If you booked an award and a delay forces a same-day reroute, you may be offered an alternative that is operationally convenient but weaker for points value. Examples include:
– Being pushed to a later flight that breaks your positioning plan.
– Routed through a different hub that adds an overnight stay.
If you hold mid- or top-tier status, this is where it can pay off. Elite lines often answer faster, and airport agents may prioritize protected connections and tighter rebooking windows for status members. Even without status, having the airline’s app installed and being logged in can speed up self-rebooking while the queue grows at the service desk.
Why this disruption feels worse in St. Petersburg
In major multi-airport cities, disruptions can sometimes be softened by shifting passengers across airports. St. Petersburg is different. For most travelers, Pulkovo is the primary commercial option, so the system has fewer release valves when dozens of flights slip at once.
That lack of alternatives is why “late arrivals of aircraft” can sting more here than in larger metro areas with multiple hubs and more frequent departures. Once the evening wave starts running behind, the remaining flights can fill quickly. Rebooking becomes a seat-availability problem rather than just a customer-service problem.
Practical steps to take right now if you’re traveling through Pulkovo tonight
The smart play is to act before your flight is officially “in trouble.” Watch the inbound aircraft and your connection logic, not just your boarding time.
Practical steps that help immediately:
1. Check your flight status in the airline app, and look for your aircraft’s inbound leg.
2. If you have a connection, price out backup options now, even if you don’t buy them.
3. Keep receipts for meals and transport if you’re forced to wait, then submit them using the airline’s delay channels.
4. If you’re on an award ticket, take screenshots of available alternatives before they disappear.
If you’re scheduled to depart Pulkovo late this evening on December 31, get to the airport with extra buffer and have a Plan B picked out before you’re standing in a crowded rebooking line.
St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport struggled with systemic delays on New Year’s Eve 2025. The disruption, driven by late-arriving aircraft and weather in Kaliningrad, affected over 60 total flights. The tight holiday schedule exacerbates these issues, as few spare seats exist for rebooking. Travelers are advised to monitor inbound aircraft and act quickly via airline apps to secure alternative flights and protect their loyalty status benefits.
