Russian airlines’ traffic drops two per cent so far in 2025

:: Ministry of Transport of Russian Federation

In the first eight months of 2025 Russian airlines’ collective passenger traffic declined by 2.2 per cent, according to the country’s aviation authority Rosaviatsiya.

The agency has reported 73.7 million passengers served by the country’s airlines in the period from January to August this year, against 75.4 million passengers for the same period of 2024.

Total international passenger traffic added 0.9 per cent to 17.9 million passengers, whilst international traffic segment outside the CIS countries increased by 7.4 per cent to 11.4 million passengers, Rosaviatsiya reports.

However, domestic traffic of 55.8 million passengers lost 3.1 per cent year-on-year.

“In the eight months of 2025 we have seen a predictable decline of total passenger numbers of Russian airlines compared to the previous year, which is attributable to the complicated geopolitical situation, periodic disruptions in airport operations for security reasons, limited aircraft capacities and their high payload, and as a consequence, increased airline costs and higher rates,” Irina Poleshkina, senior analyst at Moscow State Technical University of Civil Aviation commented.

According to her estimates, the only segment, where traffic dynamic remained on the upbeat note was international travel destinations outside the CIS territories.

Analysis of data provided by Rosaviatsiya indicates, that total traffic numbers commenced a steady descent with the advent of the high summer season. It decreased 0.8 per cent in May, 2.9 per cent in June, 5.8 per cent in July and about 5.0 per cent in August – to 11.5 million passengers.

Passenger traffic of the local industry leader, the Aeroflot group (includes Aeroflot, LCC Pobeda and Rossiya), increased by 0.7%, to 37.2 million.

The TOP-5 Russian airlines by passenger traffic remained unchanged:

• Aeroflot
• Pobeda
• S7 Airlines
• Rossiya
• Ural Airlines

Their market share continued to increase, reaching 70.3 per cent of all Russian passenger traffic.