Aeroflot to launch flights from Domodedovo

Russia’s largest air carrier Aeroflot, which is based at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo, will launch operations from Domodedovo in 2016. An industry source has confirmed for Russian Aviation Insider that the airline is planning to fly to around 15 domestic destinations from Domodedovo, the home base of Aeroflot’s primary domestic rival S7 Airlines. Aeroflot will continue to use Sheremetyevo as its base airport.

According to the airline’s ticket reservation system, some of Aeroflot’s summer schedule flights to Sochi, Kaliningrad, St. Petersburg, Simferopol, and several other cities will be performed from Domodedovo.

Late last year, it was reported that Aeroflot was contemplating partial relocation from Sheremetyevo either to Domodedovo or to Vnukovo. The carrier’s report for the 3rd quarter of 2014 also mentioned this possibility, apparently because Aeroflot senior managers had their doubts as to Sheremetyevo’s ability to put a new runway into operation on schedule (the airport currently has two). In June 2015, after the project to build the third runway had been suspended, the airline reiterated its criticism of infrastructure constraints at Sheremetyevo.

Aeroflot’s decision to come to one more Moscow airport is driven by the need to compete for passengers against other Russian airlines. On the other hand, operations from Domodedovo, which is not Aeroflot’s base airport, will entail higher operating costs, forcing the carrier to watch the efficiency of its operations.

Three airlines of Aeroflot Group – Donavia, Rossiya and OrenAir – currently operate from Domodedovo. The airport lost a number of destinations earlier this year due to the closure of Transaero Airlines on October 26.